GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine - June 2011

JUNE 2011 ISSUE 92 • FREE

The Voice of Alberta’s LGBT Community

magazine Mistress of the Gays

ELVIRA PURE Pride Circuit Parties

One on One with:

Johnathan Frakes Ewan McGreggor Tia Carrere

Interview with

Stevie Nicks

Scan to Read on Mobile Devices

Business Directory

Community Maps

Calgary • Edmonton • Alberta

Events Calendar

Tourist Information

STARTING ON PAGE 17

www.gaycalgary.com

2

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

Table of Contents

JUNE 2011 5

Getting Physical

8

Make it so, Number One

9

Pure Pride, Pure Party

Writers and Contributors

Chris Azzopardi, Dave Brousseau, Jason Clevett, Andrew Collins, Amy Darling, Rob Diaz-Marino, Janine Eva Trotta, Jack Fertig, Glen Hanson, Joan Hilty, Evan Kayne, Stephen Lock, Chantal Macleod, Allan Neuwirth, Steve Polyak, Carey Rutherford, Romeo San Vicente, Ed Sikov, Nick Vivian and the LGBT Community of Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta.

Publisher’s Column

Chatting with Jonathan Frakes

10 Ewan McGregor: ‘I Learned a Lot’

Beginners actor on new film, the gay history lesson he got and getting naked again

PAGE 8

Publisher: Steve Polyak Editor: Rob Diaz-Marino Sales: Steve Polyak Design & Layout: Rob Diaz-Marino, Steve Polyak

Photography

Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino

Printers

Transcontinental Printing

Distribution

Calgary: Gallant Distribution GayCalgary Staff Edmonton: Clark’s Distribution Other: Canada Post

Legal Council

Courtney Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors

Sales & General Inquiries

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine 2136 17th Avenue SW Calgary, AB, Canada T2T 0G3

Office Hours: By appointment ONLY Phone: 403-543-6960 Toll Free: 1-888-543-6960 Fax: 403-703-0685 E-Mail: magazine@gaycalgary.com This Month's Cover Elvira, Pure Pride Photo, and Stevie Nicks (photo by Kristin Burns)

Proud Members of:

11 Mike Mills: My Gay Dad The personal story behind Beginners

12 CRIR Rodeo Preview

Part 2: Yes, We Know it’s a Rodeo, But...

14 Maile Flanagan

PAGE 9

Videography

Anime Ninja & Adorable Lesbian

17 Directory and Events 24 A Silencing That Echoes

Jan Buterman Refuses to Be Quiet and Just Go Away

26 Children’s Wish recognizes ISCCA’s LongStanding Support 27 Q Scopes

PAGE 12

Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, Dave Jackson

Relax, Taurus!

28 Deep Inside Hollywood Johnny Depp is going to get Thin, man

29 Cocktail Chatter Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

The Saketumi

30 Mister Manners

Steven Petrow talks new book, crazy questions and the importance of LGBT etiquette for straight people

31 2011 Rodeo Mini-Guide National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association

PAGE 26

International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association

Continued on Next Page  www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

3

Table of Contents  Continued From Previous Page

36 Out of Town

Louisville and Lexington

38 Fundraising Photos

Magazine Figures

PAGE 41

41 Stevie Nicks: A Fairy Tale

Rock legend on gays getting her, Glee controversy and first solo album in a decade

44 Bitter Girl 46 Edmonton Pride

Nine Days of Celebration to Suit Every Flavour

49 Classified Ads

PAGE 46

51 Mistress of the Gays Iconic Elvira’s Rainbow Connection

54 Chelsea Boys 55 Schwinging with Tia Carrere 58 Queer Eye

PAGE 51

60 Edmonton Pride Festival 2011 Guide Scan for Latest Issue

http://gettag.mobi http://www.gaycalgary.com/RSS

Articles • Recent News • Prize Draws • Events • Travel Info http://www.gaycalgary.com/Twitter

PAGE 55

Readership

Proof of monthly figures are available on request.

Distribution Locations:

Calgary: 160, Edmonton: 120 Other Alberta Cities: 15 Other Provinces: 35 United States: 15 Please call us if your establishment would like to become a distribution location.

History

Wayne’s World & Relic Hunter star comes to Calgary

4

9,000–11,000 copies Guaranteed Circulation: 8,500 copies Bonus Circulation: 500–2,500 copies Readers Per Copy: 4.9 (PMB) Print Readership: >41,650 Avg. Online Circulation: 150,000 readers Estimated Total Readership: >191,650 readers Frequency: Monthly

43 A Couple of Guys

Scan for this Issue

Monthly Print Quantity:

Originally established in January 1992 as Men for Men BBS by MFM Communications. Name changed to GayCalgary in 1998. Independent company as of January 2004. First edition of GayCalgary.com Magazine published November 2003. Name adjusted in November 2006 to GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine.

Disclaimer and Copyright Opinions expressed in this magazine are specific to the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of GayCalgary staff and contributors.

Those involved in the making of this publication, whether advertisers, contributors, or the subjects of articles or photographs, are not necessarily gay, lesbian, bisexual, or trans. This magazine also includes straight allies and those who are gay friendly.

No part of this publication may be reprinted or modified without the expressed written permission of the editor or publisher.

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

GayCalgary is a registered trademark.

Follow us on Twitter for articles, weekly news and updates!

July 2011 Print Deadlines

http://www.gaycalgary.com/Facebook http://www.gaycalgary.com/FacebookFan

Ad Booking: Tues, June 28th

Join us on Facebook for articles, weekly news and updates! http://www.gaycalgary.com/i92

More articles and exclusive content online!

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

Submission: Tues, July 5th In Circulation: Fri, July 8th Please contact us immediately if you think you may have missed the booking or submission deadline. www.gaycalgary.com

Editorial

Getting Physical Publisher’s Column

By Rob Diaz-Marino, MSc. For the longest time I thought I was cursed; resigned to being stuck with the build of a twink for the rest of my life. That may not seem like a curse to some, but for me it has always felt like a complete mismatch for who I am on the inside. As far back as I can remember, even prior to hitting puberty, I’ve been allured by the ideal of the stockier male physique – whether that size be due to fat or muscle. This has played into what I look for in a partner, and also what I hope to be myself.

In my case, I was getting pretty discouraged knowing that I weighed 10 lbs more in High School than I have in recent times. Steve and I will often eat the same portion sizes at meals, yet his metabolism will handle that food very differently from mine. During holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving I’ve done my best to stuff myself at meals but, I would max out my appetite and in the end nothing would stick. I’m not looking to become obese; I’m just trying NOT to look as if I’ve been starving myself – to look healthy, and feel happier with myself.

Back in October of 2010 I started a full time day job. From the way I feel, and the feedback I have been getting, I’ve been really excelling at what I do there. But much like what I do with the magazine, it is a job that is primarily mental labour. I was finding that, at the end of the day, my mind would be exhausted and somehow my muscles would be aching too. It wasn’t the kind of ache that would go away with relaxing; in fact it was exactly the opposite.

My body was trying to tell me that it was feeling left out.

As part of their philosophy to keep employees happy and healthy, my work offers access to a private fitness facility in the basement for a mere $4 per month. So I signed up, and during the day when I was feeling restless I would take my half hour break to go and lift weights.

I started this back in December, and at first it was a little difficult to get in the habit of doing it regularly. Yes, the first few times I worked out, I felt so over-exerted that I wanted to pass out. But what amazed me was that, the exercises that nearly made me lose my lunch the one day would barely make me break a sweat the day after. I started challenging myself to do a little more when I felt like I had the strength and energy left – either increasing the weight or doing a few more repetitions. Usually I would do two passes at my volley of exercises, but recently I even managed to do three.

When I would return to work, for the first hour I would feel a little tired, but for the rest of the day I would feel more alert and energized. When it came to sleeping at night, my body and mind both concurred that they wanted to rest.

It was a good feeling to find this sort of balance.

Just at the start of this month I suddenly noticed that some other results were becoming apparent, that I didn’t expect from a mere 30 minute daily workout. I coughed one day with my hand across my chest and realized that my palm didn’t touch in the centre any more. When I clenched my fists, I could see muscles rippling in my forearm that never used to do that. My appetite was increasing at meals, and when I weighed myself I discovered that I was back up to what I weighed in high school, and still gaining. It’s ironic to think I was wary of exercise for fear that I might lose weight instead!

A friend of mine suggested doing some activities between lifting weights to keep my heart rate up, so that I would get a cardiovascular workout at

www.gaycalgary.com

the same time. I took this advice and again, the first day I felt completely winded but after that I was completely fine. After a few days, I even noticed a difference in my lungs when it came to talking and singing.

It feels very exciting to be experiencing all of these changes, and I can’t wait to see where it will take me. It seems to me like, whether you want to gain weight or lose it, a little bit of challenging exercise every day will always take you in the right direction.

Last Month Despite our hopes that May would be a quieter month so that we could catch up on work, it turned out to be pretty busy, with plenty of smaller community events still going on in both Calgary and Edmonton.

Pure Pride held a special dance at Club Sapien last month, where they flew out DJ Nick Bertossi, Steven Daigle (from our June 2010 cover) and adult film superstar Austin Wilde. But first, the boys went for a romp at the pre-party at Priape, where they tried out the port-a-sling in front of drooling onlookers - ourselves included! Over the course of the night, Wilde ended up taking my shirt off two times…he was just helping, since I asked for pictures with him. Woof!

The Calgary Men’s Chorus put on a very unique show this past month.

Just from the concept, Blue seemed to catch people’s curiosity. When they sold out of tickets for the two shows that they had originally planned, they decided to offer a third show, which was close to selling out when we attended on their opening night. Though the hot humid air and bleacher seating were not ideal for comfort, the combination of singing and synchronized swimming was truly breathtaking.

Flash celebrated their first anniversary on the 27th and 28th. I showed up to take pictures, however my cold was just starting to hit me at that time. It’s difficult enough to approach people in a loud and busy club, but doing this while I felt like I wanted to crawl into a hole and die was too much for me. So

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

5

 Editorial Contd. sadly I wasn’t able to get enough for a full page of photos as we like to do for bar anniversaries, but we congratulate Flash nonetheless!

The ISCCA held their annual Investitures ceremony, for the first time at Club Sapien. It was certainly the busiest Investitures that Steve and I have seen in recent memory. There was a staggering lineup of numbers that went well past the anticipated ending time, but all in all it was a really entertaining show.

If you were wondering, yes I did make some visible progress on our front yard fence for Snoopy. The long spell of rain did put a damper on this, and I think I might have made myself sick from working in the wet conditions.

There is still a good deal of work to be done, but with such beautiful weather, it should not be a problem once I’m better. Once again I’m proving to be a quick study when it comes to being handy around the house, but part of that learning comes from making mistakes. For one, I will be buying shorter screws.

June 2010 As major community events go, we are back to the grindstone for June.

Coming up first is Edmonton Pride, followed immediately by Lethbridge Pride. Then at the end of the month is the ARGRA Rodeo. That’s a whole lot of fun cut out for all of us! As a sponsor of all of these events, GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine brings together information about them (and more) in this very packed June edition.

You may be wondering why this month’s cover looks like something that we should be saving for an October edition. As fabulous as that would be, it would not be very timely. That’s because Elvira is coming to Calgary as part of the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo (June 17th to 19th), along with other major interviewees from this month: Johnathan Frakes, Tia Carrere, and Maile Flanagan.

Changing Printers After having a rough several months with the quality of service from our long-time printers, we’ve made the tough decision to see if the grass is greener somewhere else. Last month was the final straw, after a delay due to some late ad submissions caused major repercussions for us. We received the print copies nearly a week late, and nowhere near the quality we have come to expect for our product. We couldn’t argue at that point; our former printers had already moved mountains to get us that much, and we couldn’t wait any longer to get magazines out on the shelves. It was a pretty miserable feeling for all of this to be completely out of our control, but with similar things having happened regularly to us since the start of the year, it was clearly time for us to move on. I can at least say this is not a burned bridge; if we need to return to them someday once things are sorted out, we may.

The new printers that we are trying out are actually not new to us at all.

They turn out to be the same company that printed issues #1 and #2 for us.

Since that time, technology has changed and their equipment has improved, and they are able to offer us full colour glossy throughout the whole magazine for a price on par with what we were paying previously for only the outer 32 pages in colour glossy and the rest black and white. We’ve made a slight trade off on the paper stock for now; we will see how this turns out and adjust accordingly in coming months.

Being colour throughout certainly offers us more freedom in the way we position content in the magazine. Previously we had to be very strategic in order to make the best use of our colour space. Now we can start to arrange things in a more logical manner. Offering black and white advertising spots technically no longer makes sense, but we will continue to offer them for the time being and re-evaluate whether we continue offering them next year.

Black and white ads will simply appear in grayscale on our colour pages.

Ultimately, I think this will be a step up for us. So please bare with us through these growing pains.

Community Early last month on Mother’s day, shortly after his birthday party, we received the sad news that Barry Gagliardi had passed away. He was discovered to have a brain tumour last year in September, and despite efforts to remove it, the tumour continued to grow. His partner Ron, and other close friends and family were understandably devastated, and needed time to mourn.

Club Sapien, the Backlot, FAB, and Texas Lounge all contributed their support in various ways to help the Calgary Eagle stay operating during this tough time, for which the Calgary Eagle has asked us to pass along their deepest gratitude. A memorial service was held for Barry a few days later that friends, family, community members and former students attended, or sent along their condolences.

The Calgary Eagle will be hosting a celebration of Barry’s life for the whole community on June 25th.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2244

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments 6

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

Online Last Month (1/2) A Mutual Love of McLachlan Ballet

Sarah McLachlan & Jean Grand-Maitre discuss Alberta Ballet’s newest spectacular I had two big things in common with Sarah Mclachlan going into the world premiere of Fumbling Towards Ecstasy – the Alberta Ballet production based... www.gaycalgary.com/a2219

3 Expert Tips for LGBT Buyers of Beach Property

Although the national economy is gaining momentum and the stock market hit new 3-year highs in April, mortgage interest rates remain at historically... www.gaycalgary.com/a2220 Mump & Smoot Dark Clowns With Heart Mump & Smoot: Cracked, playing until May 15th at Alberta Theatre Projects, is a lot of things: funny, dark, violent, and most surprisingly very... www.gaycalgary.com/a2221

Wingshooters, A Pornography of Grief

Book Marks Wingshooters, by Nina Revoyr. Akashic Books, 250 pages, $15.95 paper. Xenophobia is rampant in rural Vietnam War-era Wisconsin, and for... www.gaycalgary.com/a2222

‘I AM EQUAL’ Makes History In Calgary

It’s not every day someone sets out to break a world record, let alone make a run for it with 125,000 of his closest friends and family, but that’s... www.gaycalgary.com/a2238

Rammstein Explodes in Edmonton

How a metal band whose lyrics are all in German, who aren’t played on the radio and whose only North American hit was in 1998 - is able to sell... www.gaycalgary.com/a2239

Elton John Concert One of a Kind

Elton John can command a top ticket price of $225 yet still sell out the Saddledome every few years when he performs. Having seen John twice, it is... www.gaycalgary.com/a2240

Creep of the Week: Joe Wilson

Oh, Joe Wilson, shut up. I’m sorry. That was childish. Then again, that’s apparently the level of discourse Wilson operates on. He is, after... www.gaycalgary.com/a2224

Political Cartoons

May 2011 www.gaycalgary.com/a2237

Queeries

My boyfriend wants me to sext him Q: Many of my friends are sending naked pictures of themselves to their boyfriends, and they don’t seem to think twice about it. I’m a competitive... www.gaycalgary.com/a2234

www.gaycalgary.com

Online Last Month (2/2) The OutField

Ty Nolan’s gay sports content Wrestling was big in Oklahoma, where Ty Nolan went to high school. His brother and sister were involved in rodeo – another big sport. Yet Nolan chose his... www.gaycalgary.com/a2235

Deep Inside Hollywood

Whose presence will be felt in The Muppets?

There’s been so much rumor and speculation about what stars will pop up in The Muppets – the upcoming reboot of the film franchise featuring Kermit... www.gaycalgary.com/a2238

Tips for LGBT Real Estate Buyers

Leveraging the Value of Home Inspections One of the most essential steps in any real estate transaction is the building inspection, and by all means LGBT buyers should have an inspection done... www.gaycalgary.com/a2241

Creep of the Week: Bob Vander Plaats

A common talking point of anti-gay activists is that being gay is a public health risk. Whether trying to derail anti-discrimination legislation, protesting... www.gaycalgary.com/a2225

Deep Inside Hollywood

Evan Rachel Wood to March with Clooney Evan Rachel Wood, who recently talked to Esquire magazine about her bisexuality and how she likes to treat the women she dates (for the record, ladies.... www.gaycalgary.com/a2229

24/7 NYC: Why Boredom Is Not an Option

The warmth of the vodka is settling nicely across my face, improving my complexion and adding a rosy pallor to my demeanor. I slide my keycard in the... www.gaycalgary.com/a2186

Creep of the Week: William Donohue

Are all Catholic priests child molesters? No, of course not. Are some Catholic priests child molesters? Yes, indeed. But you know what?

There are child... www.gaycalgary.com/a2226

Celluloid Activist: The Life and Times of Vito Russo

Celluloid Activist: The Life and Times of Vito Russo, by Michael Schiavi. University of Wisconsin Press, 366 pages, $29.95 hardcover.

Last... www.gaycalgary.com/a2223

Stampede Kicks Off Coke Stage with Hollerado and The Trews

There was a sense of anticipation at Flames Central on May 16th, as the Coca-Cola Covert Concert took place to announce the 2011 lineup for the Coke ... www.gaycalgary.com/a2242

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

7

Interview When Star Trek: The Next Generation started in 1987, nobody realized it would go on to be one of the most successful of the various franchises.

It was a slow start, Frakes said.

“We had no idea it would be so huge. When we made the pilot the audiences and the studio and networks were so skeptical that we did three separate contracts, one for the pilot, one for 13 episodes, and one that if it went well we could stay on for additional seasons of the show. The audience was slow to come to our show because they were so protective of the classic ‘Trek. It took some persuasion on the part of Next Gen to get the really hardcore trekkers to come around.”

Becoming so associated with one character can be a blessing and a curse.

“Leonard Nimoy said it is better to be typecast than not cast at all. I am blessed with learning another craft with directing. I certainly wouldn’t want to be trying to raise my kids on acting jobs after doing Star Trek because it is very much a double-edged sword. With the exception of Patrick (Stewart) and Shatner, having been on Star Trek isn’t always a blessing if you want to continue to have an acting career.”

Frakes now focuses more on directing. He has directed two Star Trek films (First Contact and Insurrection) and episodes of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. He has broken out of the Star Trek mould to also direct episodes of Roswell, V, Castle, Dollhouse, and Burn Notice, to name a few.

 Jonathan Frakes, Photo by Paramount

Make it so, Number One Chatting with Jonathan Frakes

By Jason Clevett In 2010, Calgarians jammed the BMO centre in part to meet Star Trek’s Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner). So leave it to the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo’s organizers to take it to the next level in 2011. Captain Kirk himself (William Shatner), and Lt. Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) will be there.

“Our show is 25 years old, Shatner’s show is 40 years old. It never ceases to amaze me that our audience is so loyal. God bless ‘em, they still come out, which I think is a credit to Gene Roddenberry. It is a wonderful situation to walk into, people have chosen to come to the convention because a show I was lucky enough to be part of has had a positive influence on their lives. It is a win-win, you have a captive audience of people who already like what you’ve done. Your material works pretty well.”

Frakes took a few minutes out of his busy directing schedule to talk to GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine about Star Trek, directing, and more. You could tell over the phone that he was excited to be coming to Calgary.

“I learned from my beautiful wife Genie Francis that we wouldn’t be at any of these things if it weren’t for our fans. It is quite an obvious but profound way of looking at it. I don’t think actors and celebrities should go out and appear at these conventions if they are not going to interact and enjoy the experience. I still look forward to it because it is a room full of people that put their money down to come out and have a little contact. I try to have fun every day anyway, but there is a certain responsibility to the fans that have kept us in their minds for all these years. So I look forward to Calgary, I have heard it is a blast. Brent said he had a blast last year.”

8

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

“I like telling a story and being involved in all aspects of the process.

The reason I started doing it during Next Generation was we had so much waiting around I started to think what the hell is going on? I realized the director is involved in every shot that is done, coming up, and the decisions on everything from wardrobe to make-up. If you are going to do this for 12 or 15 hours a day, I prefer to be fully immersed. I really liked Dollhouse and thought that particular episode was spectacular.

It is interesting that shows get taken off the air that we all have such passion about. I am in the middle of doing (TNT show) Leverage and it has a style that has been established by Dean Devlin. So when you come to work you need to maintain that style, so when people click by it they can tell it is Leverage. I directed an episode of Burn Notice which has the same sort of thing, that it has established a style for itself. So your responsibility as a director going in is to put your stamp on it in terms of pace and storytelling but, stylistically you can’t reinvent the wheel.”

While Star Trek: The Next Generation never had a gay character, the episode Outcast in Season 5 saw Riker fall for Soren, a member of an androgynous race of species that does not endorse gender specificity.

The themes of being outcast resonated with the LGBT viewers.

“I am sure it was an intentional parallel. I always thought that episode missed the boat in not casting a man instead of a woman in the part of the androgynous character of Soren. It seems like they got right to the ledge and then lost their nerve.”

Frakes celebrated his 23 year anniversary the day after this interview.

His marriage to soap star Genie Francis has survived in an industry where most relationships do not. In an age where it seems every day a Hollywood star is getting divorced or involved in a scandal, Frakes and Francis are an example of a Hollywood couple that can survive in the spotlight.

“Part of the success has been that Genie and I both do the same thing for a living so we understand what our professional lives are like. We are both just small-town kids who just happened to be on TV so our role-models were not the type of Hollywood that you just referred to. A huge part of it is luck and falling in love with the right people. I was no kid when we got married, I had certainly sowed my oats. I am certainly blessed to have a partner for that long who puts up with me and still laughs at my jokes.”

Johnathan Frakes Appearing at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo June 17th to 19th www.calgaryexpo.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2245

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments www.gaycalgary.com

Pure Pride, Pure Party

By Evan Kayne As a young man in Edmonton during the early 1990s, I heard of circuit parties like the White Parties in the States, along with Black and Blue in Montreal. I knew there was pretty much zero chance of a similar event occurring in Alberta.

The organizers behind the Pure Pride party, occurring in Edmonton Saturday June 11th, had the same experience. Starting in 2005, they decided to do something about it. Pure Pride was inspired by a series of nightclub events that year, which seized those emotions of community, love, excitement and celebration.

It’s grown considerably in the last six years to the point Pure Pride is now one of the premier Pride dance parties in Canada. Each year they strive to present the world’s top Pride circuit DJs and entertainers.

Additionally, they haven’t forgotten their roots – they still want to bring the world to Edmonton’s Pride Festival each year.

According to Pure Pride producer Dale Plourde, “it’s going to be a full night...things get underway right at 9 o’clock...it’s going to be jammed packed until three.”

This year’s lineup of DJs include DJ/producer Hector Fonseca,one of the most sought-after producers; he has topped the charts with official remixes for Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Kelis, among others. Backing him up will be Alyson Calagna, who is fast becoming known as the world’s most entertaining female DJ. Additionally, there will be a concert performance by New York City’s Gay hip-hop sensation Cazwell and his hot dancers.

performance. This year’s Pure Pride should blow your mind, according to Dale. “The production is going to be amazing...it’s going to be a full concert production with lots of special effects.”

They’ve also grown and improved it over the years. Dale says they have learned a few things about appealing to the attendees: “Things we’ve changed...we’re just more aware that variety is important.” They’re trying to have a wider range of entertainment options.

Along with a wider variety of guys to look at. “The same thing (applies) for models in the Priape fashion show...it’s not going to be one flavor.

They’ll be jocks and twinks and some bigger muscle guys. There’s going to be some variety because everyone loves something different.”

For something like this to happen in Alberta is amazing. Last year’s attendance topped out at 1800; this year it’s almost double, with room for 3000 attendees. Having someone big like Hector is going to be “pretty powerful” at the party.

Dale has received praise for the lineup of entertainers – the kind of praise that tells you we’ve finally gotten our own home-grown version of a circuit party. “I’ve got a couple of friends coming from Vancouver, and (they said) you guys are kicking our asses...we never have parties like this.” That’s because people have finally figured out Edmontonians and Calgarians will support, and deserve, such an event.

Pure Pride Edmonton - Sat, Jun 11th www.purepride.ca

As eye candy goes, adult film stars Brent Everett and Tristan Jaxx will also be in attendance to help raise your...spirits. Unlike other parties with a sectioned-off VIP lounge, Dale tells us, “everybody will have access to those guys” for autographs.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2246

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

If that wasn’t enough, Mark Sheppard’s Freakshow is also part of the mix. It’s an elaborate fashion show/dance performance/musical

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

9

Interview

 photos by Focus Features

Ewan McGregor: ‘I Learned a Lot’

Beginners actor on new film, the gay history lesson he got and getting naked again

By Chris Azzopardi Ewan McGregor didn’t mean to offend you. As the debonair actor sits down in Los Angeles to talk up his latest film Beginners, he’s genuinely upset if his last “gay” movie, I Love You Phillip Morris, was insultingly stereotypical to the queer kind.

“Yeah,” he says, pondering with a curious puppy-dog look (similar to the one that his adorable pet terrier, Arthur, offers in Beginners), “that’s disappointing. I never felt they were making cheap stabs. That was his life.”

And when you say that with as much innocent charm as McGregor, his dreamy blue eyes leave you no choice but to let that one slide (the Scottish accent helps, too). The 40-yearold’s latest feature, the offbeat comedy-drama Beginners, is a sophisticated look at gay life, as the film’s father figure, Hal (Christopher Plummer), lives openly after almost a half-century in the closet. Now 75, and widowed after losing his wife, he’s free as can be, and his son, Oliver (McGregor) has to make sense of it all – who’s his dad now? Who was he then? And he only has so much time. Hal is dying.

“I thought the two opposing things were really interesting – where somebody is really living for the first time, and dying,” says McGregor, whose grief-stricken character also falls for an equally-as-love-challenged woman, played by Mélanie Laurent.

“There’s of course a lot about love and acceptance,” he says.

“It’s a very moving film. It was a blessing for me to do as an actor, and I could only imagine that it has a very deep affect on you; it seems so real.”

Because it actually did happen. Director/writer Mike Mills based Beginners, the follow-up to his 2005 debut Thumbsucker, on his real-life father, who died shortly after coming out.

“What’s maybe interesting for gay people about it is that it’s an older gay man coming out and really embracing his sexuality and indulging in the gay world,” McGregor says. “He really goes for it with this great gusto that he uses to approach his new gay life, which is really inspiring and lovely.”

In the film, Mills links Hal’s life to pivotal moments in American gay history, like Harvey Milk’s assassination, to better explain why coming out then was so taboo.

“I think it must be very difficult for young gay men to imagine what life was like for a young gay man in the ’50s,” McGregor says. “I learned a lot about it. I don’t think I was as aware of how difficult it was to be gay in that time, and how dangerous it was.

“That image of the older man being thrown in the back of that van because he’s in a gay bar – it’s difficult maybe for a young gay man to comprehend that, so it gives you a deeper understanding of what it might have been like to be gay in those days.”

That even McGregor got a gay history lesson might surprise some – he’s been playing gay (or some variation of it) for much of his life, since 1996’s The Pillow Book, in which his character was bisexual – and very naked. Two years later, McGregor was made up as an Iggy Pop-ish glam rocker in Todd Haynes’ Velvet Goldmine, making out with Jonathan Rhys Meyers in what’s become a beloved moment in queer cinema. And just last year there was I Love You Phillip Morris, about two cellmates – one played by McGregor, the other Jim Carrey – who fall madly in love.

When Beginners reached the actor, it didn’t take him long to sign on for the role as the son of a late-blooming homosexual.

McGregor met Mills at a Santa Monica cafe, where they didn’t even discuss the film. Only his life.

“I just wanted to know more about his story,” McGregor says.

“That really shows that it’s landed in you if you’re hungry for all those details. Then, that was it. I was onboard.”

McGregor noticed something almost immediately – how Mills refers to his father as if there were two of them.

“When he talks about his father, he talks about his straight father and gay father and how wonderful his gay father was and how much more accessible

Continued on Page 35  10

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

Interview

 photos by Focus Features

Mike Mills: My Gay Dad The personal story behind Beginners

By Chris Azzopardi Mike Mills didn’t really know his father until he came out.

When the director’s dad came swooshing out of the closet at the ripe age of 75, after decades of being married to a woman, not a moment was wasted. He lived freely, wildly and, most of all, gayly. And then he died.

Mills’ father lives on, though, through the director’s very personal, deeply emotional Beginners, which casts Christopher Plummer as outand-proud Hal and Ewan McGregor as his son, Oliver.

When we met up with Mills in Los Angeles, sitting in a Four Seasons suite, the filmmaker spoke candidly about his dad-inspired dramedy – from dressing him in gay apparel to the gay porn they watched together.

GC&E: How did you manage to portray the gay character, Hal, in such a non-stereotypical way? Did it have something to do with the fact that the character was very real to you?

MM: Yeah – and Christopher didn’t think of him as a gay character; he just thought of him as a man in love with another man.

Ewan said the other night, because people were asking him about that since he plays so many gay people, “I don’t think of it as a gay character, because how do you play that? What would that be?”

GC&E: How much of your father is actually in the movie?

MM: A lot, and then also not very much. Christopher and my dad are pretty different. Hal is my semi-autobiographical father who’s really a part of my personal life and connection to larger American history like Ginsberg and Milk. The film came to me because my gay dad and I would have these wonderful arguments, just more intense conversations about love. We were talking a lot about why I wasn’t married, and I would ask, “You want me to get married and you were just married for 44 years to the wrong person?”

GC&E: Do you always refer to your dad as two people – the gay one and the straight one?

MM: Yeah, I have a gay dad and a straight dad, and they were pretty different people.

GC&E: When your dad finally came out, how much did you have to school him in gay culture?

MM: (Laughs) He jumped in real fast. And I think he wanted to have sex with a lot more guys than he had sex with, but he had a wonderful community of friends who really took care of him. I’m a straight guy, but I have a lot of gay friends and I lived in New York for 15 years during the ’80s, so there were some things I knew.

www.gaycalgary.com

That gay pride flag scene, that happened to my sister and him. He had a bumper sticker on his car and he goes, “You know, that means gay pride.” My sister’s like, “Yes, Dad.” He was pretty surprised, because he’s so used to living in such a codified gay world. It was totally underground, and I remember he had this leather bracelet ring, like an S&M thing, and I was like, “Pop, you do know what that’s for, right?” I’m still not sure if he knew. (Laughs) GC&E: What did you learn from him about the gay scene?

MM: I think I knew this but it wasn’t a part of my life: him being 75 and having crushes on all these younger guys and they were almost never reciprocated. It was really heartbreaking to watch.

GC&E: He was trying to relive a part of life he was never able to live.

MM: Or, like so many gay and straight men, we like the younger ones – especially in the gay scene, which is pretty ageist.

GC&E: Elderly gay people are rarely portrayed in film. By having one in your movie, are you making some kind of statement?

MM: I wasn’t. I was just talking about my dad. I’m really happy to have the gay history in the movie and to have a gay-positive film, but as a straight guy, I wouldn’t feel like I’d have the right to make a gay movie unless I had some access or something to report that was specific. So I love that it’s really cool that I have an older gay guy in my movie – it just happens to be my dad, and that’s how I got there. That it’s even more unseen makes me all the more proud.

GC&E: But you’re gay adjacent.

MM: I feel very gay adjacent. I moved to New York when I was 18. I had so many friends who were gay. So many teachers I admired were gay. All my classes were about heterosexism, so I felt very gay adjacent for a long time.

GC&E: You mention how the movie makes historical references to gay culture. And to complement the film, there’s your book, Drawings from the Film Beginners, that documents many queer moments in history – including a favorite: the Anita Bryant pieing. Why did you include all these historically gay moments?

MM: I wanted to have some queer history in there. To me, the history of love has to include the history of the gay struggle to be part of our understanding of love. And I love everything about the Anita Bryant pieing. It’s such an amazing American moment.

GC&E: What do you remember most about your dad being gay? Is that in the movie?

MM: My parents were very frugal, Depression-era kids, so I would upgrade him to, like, the Gap. Then when he came out he’s all Club Monaco and French Connection. I remember all his friends a lot. All of a sudden the house was full of all these guys and there was a party every night – movie night, dinner club night, book night.

GC&E: Did you hang around for those?

Continued on Page 35 

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

11

Event

 Hashmagandy

CRIR Rodeo Preview

Part 2: Yes, We Know it’s a Rodeo, But...

By Evan Kayne While the competition is at the core of ARGRA’s annual Rodeo, one of the things that makes it the largest LGBT Community spectacle of the year is that it envelops so much more than that: Dance Your Boots Off After looking at the schedule for the weekend, the only way they could fit in more dances and entertainers would be if they added a day to the rodeo. One of the big opportunities has been the Showboat Stage – an outdoor stage set up at the heart of the midway. Judy Munson, ARGRA Communications Director told us the plan for this area: “...we’re trying to make it more of a festival atmosphere... So for the people who don’t want to go to the rodeo (events) there’s something for them to watch.”

Thursday, June 30th on the Showboat Stage, keep an eye out for the big Alberta Drag Show. At this point, it’s still coming together, but the rodeo is hoping to have representatives from both Edmonton and Calgary onstage, along with a local helping of Drag Kings.

That evening, Dynamic DJ Rob will get the energy of the weekend started with the CRIR Rodeo Weekend Kick-Off Dance.

On Friday, it’s a full day for the Showboat Stage. Starting at 1pm, musician Connor James returns to the CRIR after being warmly welcomed last year. He’s followed at 3pm by a very interesting performer. “We are very lucky to have...Rae Spoon, the first Transgender Country Singer in the World,” Judy mentions. Rae will performing some old and new tunes from his current album.

Later that afternoon, if you’ve heard local singer Toni Vere, you’ll be pleased to know she will be performing with two other talented singers – Ann Bishop and Carla Olive – as their band, Hashmagandy. They’ll be doing what they do best: performing a very enjoyable brand of country-ish, bluesy, folky music.

That evening, you have a choice of TWO parties. The Dance Hall will feature the Country Cabaret from 7pm to 2am. You’ll be able to dance to the music of Gypsy & the Rose plus special guests Lisa Dodd and Mark Lorenz.

Attendees who aren’t huge country fans can head over to the Strobelite Barn. From 9pm to 2am you can dance to the Dirty Electric Hoedown, featuring FOUR local DJ’s: Gold Star, Jay Fraid, Rollin Dolan, and JDub. 12

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

 Lauren Mayell

 2010 Rodeo

On Saturday, if you’re not taking in the rodeo events, the theme at the Showboat Stage seems to be “Beautiful Singers”.

At 1pm, returning to the rodeo is Lauren Mayell: Pure Country a three-piece country band based out of Calgary. Later at 4pm there’s eye-candy for the women and the men when the local duo, Boy&Gurl play a two hour set.

If you want to get warmed up before the big dance, early Saturday evening the CRIR is having a Tea Dance featuring DJs Goldstar, Jay Fraid, Rollin Dolan and JDub. Then, at the main event in the Dance Hall, DJ Rob plays for the biggest dance of the Rodeo weekend - over a thousand cowboys and cowgirls grooving to the beat.

For those able to pull themselves out of bed for the breakfast Sunday morning, you will be serenaded by Connor James from 8 until 9am (then again from 1 to 3pm). Breakfast entertainment makes a welcome return to the rodeo, Judy tells us: the plan is to have performances Saturday and Sunday during the breakfasts. This was something they used to do years ago, and they found it really added to the morning atmosphere.

Finally, as you wander the midway grounds, don’t be afraid if you run into a mad doctor or a very unhelpful information lady. Heather D Swain is an artist who has performed on both sides of the pond but who hails from Edmonton. She’ll be doing her street theatre characters around the grounds for your entertainment.

Rodeo Refueling Between all this partying, you will need to eat, and this year there will be a wide assortment of options. There are old favourites you would expect at any rodeo/carnival: popcorn, cotton candy, mini-doughnuts, hot dogs, slushies, fried chicken, and ice cream.

www.gaycalgary.com

Yet, as Judy adds, “I think there is a lot of new stuff this year”. Look for items like Asian stir fry, Greek wraps, pizza cones, and poutine, along with premium food items such as chili cheeseburgers, salmon burgers, veggie burgers, bratwursts on a bun, “tattie scones” (i.e. potato onion pancakes) and salt potatoes.

Around the Midway In years past - says Judy - they’ve had to find a balance between what some retailers wanted to display, and what was appropriate for families to see. This year, “...we have a ‘red-light’ district... it’s for some of the retailers who have a little more adult product.” With this new area, retailers showcase merchandise for a mature audience without the concern of potentially offending anyone. ARGRA is expecting traffic to be higher in this area both day and night due to its very theme.

Of course, with all these vendors, you’d like to know where to go. “We’re working to have a really cool map to show where everything is.” This map is included in ARGRA’s June insert in this magazine, however it may not be on ARGRA’s website until later this month. This new map will show how they’ve designed this year’s rodeo grounds so everything is close to all the other areas on the midway.

Additionally, you’ll see fire pits in the midway area where you can relax, hang with friends and even cook marshmallows. The midway will have a theme and a ghost town area along with all the retail and food vendors, the GayCalgary & Edmonton Community Carnival and the Town Hall.

As well, returning for the fifth year in a row is the largest Gay Art Display in Western Canada.

The Rodeo Part ARGRA wasn’t going to change any rodeo events unless they could make them better, and so far the only minor alteration for this year is to the Team Challenge. They are allowing the teams to be smaller (a minimum of 4 participants), and team selection is open to anyone: bars, or businesses, or even just a group of friends.

ARGRA is strongly encouraging people to sign up, and wants people to know the event is not just to build sportsmanship and spirit, but also to give new competitors a support network. Newbies may be teamed up with rodeo veterans. Judy hopes for new competitors to have numerous other people they can turn to for advice.

People interested in competing are encouraged to contact Lori at horseclub@ARGRA.org. She will meet with the teams and help them set up for the event.

Also, sponsoring a team is a great opportunity for a business to receive recognition throughout the weekend. “A business can be as involved as they want. They can buy their shirts, they can add a little money or they can just say let’s get together and do a team - it doesn’t have to cost them anything.”

If some of the team contestants want extra help, returning for a second year on Friday July 1st will be the rodeo school. The school will instruct people on Calf Roping on Foot, Steer Decorating, Chute Dogging and Jr. Bull Riding. “We’ve got great instructors that will help them and it’s really cheap (the cost is $25/person per event). They get all kinds of help and they get to practise on the live animals.”

Once again, registration for the rodeo school can be done through the ARGRA website.

Furthermore, Judy mentions there will be some community recognition. Purple ribbons will be on sale as a fundraiser for the Trevor Project. “Our first day...all the IGRA rodeos...are dedicated to the Trevor Project and It Gets Better. So we’re encouraging teams to wear a purple shirt on the first day or to buy purple ribbons.”

Finally, a great way to save money and not be fumbling for your wallet as frequently is to purchase advance ticket packages. Even though the advance discount ended May 31st, you can still purchase tickets online from ARGRA’s website up until Monday June 27th. After that point you will have to buy them at the rodeo gate.

“The packages we talked about in the last article (in May), people are really grabbing hold of the Full Bull package,” remarks Judy, about the all Ticket Info inclusive package. Perhaps the reason sales are going so http://www.argra.org/tickets_and_packages.php well is because there’s a lot more people who realize for Rodeo School all the entertainment options available, it’s an incredible http://www.argra.org/rodeo_school.php deal, and a great way to Team Challenge celebrate the Canada Day weekend.

http://www.argra.org/team_challenge.php

The Canadian Rockies International Rodeo Presented by ARGRA • Thu, Jun 30th - Sun, Jul 3rd www.argra.org http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2249

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

13

Interview

Maile Flanagan

Anime Ninja & Adorable Lesbian

By Evan Kayne Appearing at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo June 17th to 19th, actress Maile Flanagan is known as the voice of the protagonist ninja Naruto Uzumaki in the English dubbed version of the Japanese anime Naruto.

Yet, like many of the performers at the expo who are renowned for a particular role, that’s only one facet of her professional career; as is the fact that she is married to another woman, only one facet of her personality.

Maile (pronounced “miley”) has had parts in television and movies, from The Office, ER to Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Yes Man. For Maile, it’s more about the individual project, whether that be animation, live movies or television, or theatre.

Though she doesn’t mind being known for Naruto, she stresses it is not ALL she does: “I do at least 50% of on-camera work... maybe more,” she explains.

Not that the work on Naruto is easy. This type of animation voice work is a different beast than regular animation or even acting on stage or screen. The writers adapt the script from the Japanese original, and the actors must then synch the length of time a character speaks and the emotion he or she is portraying.

14

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

Sometimes it doesn’t quite match, so actors will have to improvise dialogue or stretch the moment. “I’ve done so much Naruto...I’ve done over 300 episodes, several movies and video games. There are constraints, but it’s a skill set you work and get better at.” When asked about a career as a voice actor for animation, Maile has in the past advised people to consider not just acting classes, but improvisation classes.

Although Naruto is in its tenth year, Maile may not see her fellow cast members in the recording studio, or only see them in passing as each person comes in and records their part separately. Consequently, Maile enjoys working on animated films or shows where the voice is recorded first because you get to see and work with your co-stars. “Normally, in original animation you’re doing it in a group and that’s really fun.”

Sometimes doing original animation projects, she’ll be working alongside well known actors. Maile had a part in Ice Age 3 and was impressed with the work done by John Leguizamo. She watches some of the big budget animation films and sometimes she’s surprised how well these people work in a medium that is not their normal area of expertise.

“Then there are people who I think aren’t very good at it, and they cast them because they are ‘names’...and it just kind of drives some of the people in the animation community crazy...”

Especially if the person’s voice isn’t very unique.

As for providing the voice for a teenaged ninja and being an adult woman, Maile does get the occasional disbelieving response. “Especially younger fans...it’s kind of funny...the younger kids will say YOU’RE the VOICE?!” Which, of course leads to requests to speak as Naruto.

On the phone, Maile is very friendly and open about her career. This also includes her sexuality. Writing for this magazine for years, I’ve spoken to other actors about this issue.

It seems while the big celebrities are still in the closet, if you’re either a stock character, a secondary character in a big cast, or specialized in one area (i.e. voice) no one cares about your sexuality.

Maile agrees, and adds that direct bigotry is something she’s never experienced. She does concede women may have an easier time than men, and if you’re a character actor, people don’t care so much. There still are some pockets of resistance in the industry, yet usually most people are ambivalent about who you sleep with when you walk on set. “I play a lot of straight characters on camera...I don’t think people are thinking about my sexuality that much.”

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo has scheduled Maile for an autograph session and probably an anime panel.

Going forward, Maile is working on the tenth season of Naruto, and this summer you may see her in a small role onscreen in the third Transformers film: “I’m an office worker but I have a couple of good moments...if they stay in the film.” Additionally, she’ll be a guest star on the season premier of Weeds and she’s working on appearing in a theatre show this fall.

Furthermore, she’ll be doing some political work. “I used to live in Minnesota for years and years...they recently passed the bill to ban gay marriage...in the (state) house. I’m going to be producing a benefit where all the money will be going back to fight that.” She hasn’t named to benefit yet, but she will let us know when the time comes.

If you get a chance to see Maile Flanagan, I’d recommend it as she came across as a pleasant and extremely fun person.

Maile Flanagan Appearing at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo June 17th to 19th • www.calgaryexpo.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2250

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

15

16

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

Directory & Events 24

DOWNTOWN CALGARY

61 37

43 41 4

55 9

60

2

34 33

16

1

35

59

36

3

5 6

62

N

13

1 2 3 4 5 6

Calgary Outlink---------- Community Groups Aids Calgary------------- Community Groups Backlot------------------------ Bars and Clubs Calgary Eagle Inc.------------ Bars and Clubs Texas Lounge----------------- Bars and Clubs Goliath’s-------------------------- Bathhouses

9 FAB---------------------------- Bars and Clubs 13 Westways Guest House---- Accommodations 16 Priape Calgary------------------ Retail Stores 24 Courtney Aarbo----------------------- Services 33 Twisted Element-------------- Bars and Clubs 34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------------- Theatre

35 36 37 41 43 55

FIND OUT!

CALGARY

LGBT Community Directory GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine is the go-to source for information about Alberta LGBT businesses and community groups—the most extensive and accurate resource of its kind! This print supplement contains a subset of active community groups and venues, with premium business listings of paid advertisers.

✰....... Find our Magazine Here

One Yellow Rabbit-------------------- Theatre ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects-------- Theatre Pumphouse Theatre----------------- Theatre La Fleur-------------------------- Retail Stores Lisa Heinricks----------Theatre and Fine Arts Marquee Room--------------- Bars and Clubs

......... Wheelchair Accessible

Spot something inaccurate or outdated? Want your business or organization listed? We welcome you to contact us!

 403-543-6960  1-888-543-6960

 magazine@gaycalgary.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/CalgaryTravelRss http://www.gaycalgary.com/EdmontonTravelRss

Local Bars, Restaurants, and Accommodations info on the go! http://www.gaycalgary.com/Directory

Accommodations 13 Westways Guest House--------------------✰

 216 - 25th Avenue SW  403-229-1758  1-866-846-7038  westways@shaw.ca  www.gaywestways.com

Bars & Clubs 3 Backlot----------------------------------- ✰  403-265-5211  Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close

 209 - 10th Ave SW

4 Calgary Eagle Inc.----------------------- ✰  424a - 8th Ave SE  403-263-5847

 http://www.calgaryeagle.com  Open Wed-Sun, 5pm-close Leather/Denim/Fetish bar.

Club Paradiso

 1413 - 9th Ave SE, upstairs  403-265-5739  www.villagecantina.ca Carly’s Angels on Sat. Billy Schmidt’s “Sounds of Sinatra” on Fri. and varied entertainment on Thurs. Please call for details.

58 59 60 61 62

Theatre Junction--------------------- Theatre Village Bistro & Lounge----------Restaurant Club Sapien------------------- Bars and Clubs Holidays on the Hill------------- Retail Stores Concept Bar & Lounge------- Bars and Clubs

60 Club Sapien------------------------------ ✰  1140 10th Ave SW  403-457-4464  http://www.clubsapien.ca Dance club & restaurant.

60 Concept Bar & Lounge---------------------✰  908 17th Ave SW  403-228-1006  www.facebook.com/ConceptLounge Premiere crossover lounge. Entrance on 16th Ave. 55 Marquee Room-----------------------------✰

 612 - 8th Avenue SW  www.marqueeroom.com

Alternative night every Wednesday.

9 FAB (formerly Money Pennies)--------- ✰

 1742 - 10th Ave SW  403-263-7411  www.fab-bar.com  Closed Mondays.

Bar and restaurant.

5 Texas Lounge-------------------------------✰

 308 - 17 Ave SW  403-229-0911  www.goliaths.ca  Open 7 days a week, 11am-close 33 Twisted Element----------------------------✰

 1006 - 11th Ave SW  403-802-0230

 www.twistedelement.ca

Dance Club and Lounge.

Browse our complete directory of over 570 gay-frieindly listings! www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

17

Directory & Events Calgary Events Mondays

ASK Meet and Greet----------------  7-9:30pm

 Bonasera (1204 Edmonton Tr. NE) Inside Out Youth Group----------------  7-9pm See 1 Calgary Outlink

Mosaic Youth Group--------------------  7-9pm  Old Y Centre (223 12th Ave SW)

Coffee------------------------------------  10am See Prime Timers Calgary

Thursdays

Curling-------------------------  2:20 & 4:30pm See Apollo Calgary

Community Spirit Carnival-------------  6-9pm

By SHARP Foundation  Eau Claire Market, Community Room 229 - 200 Barclay Parade SW

Alcoholics Anonymous---------------------  8pm

 Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance) 1227 Kensington Close NW

1st Anniversary Party------------------  All Day At 3 Backlot

Lesbian Seniors---------------------------- 2pm

 Kerby Center, Sunshine Room  3rd 1133 7th Ave SW

Yoga (A)-----------------------------  6-7:30pm See Apollo Calgary Sep27Dec6

Swimming-------------------------------  7-8pm

By Different Strokes

 SAIT Pool (1301 - 16 Ave NW)

Yoga (B)-------------------------  7:45-9:15pm Sep27Dec6 See Apollo Calgary

Lesbian Meetup Group-------------  7:30-9pm At 1 Calgary Outlink  1st

Squash--------------------------  8:15-9:45pm See Apollo Calgary Oct18

Fake Mustache Show------------------  7:30pm

By Miscellaneous Youth Network  1st  Quincy’s (609 7th Ave SW)

Tuesdays

Calgary Networking Club--------------  5-7pm  1st Tues See 1 Calgary Outlink Boot Camp (A)----------------------  7-8:30pm Sep7 See Apollo Calgary Between Men---------------------------  7-9pm See 1 Calgary Outlink  2nd, 4th Rehearsals--------------------------  7-9:30pm See Calgary Men’s Chorus Jun Karaoke------------------------------  8pm-1am At 5 Texas Lounge Fetish Slosh----------------------------  Evening  2nd At 3 Backlot

Fake Mustache Show---------------------- 9pm  3rd

By Miscellaneous Youth Network At 60 Club Sapien Alcoholics Anonymous---------------------  8pm

 Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance) 1227 Kensington Close NW Fridays

Leather Night-------------------------- Evening At 4 Calgary Eagle BBQ Fundraiser-------------------------  5-9pm

By ISCCA at 3 Backlot Rec Volleyball------------------------------ 7pm See Apollo Calgary

Alcoholics Anonymous---------------------  8pm

 Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance) 1227 Kensington Close NW

Illusions--------------------------------  7-10pm See 1 Calgary Outlink  1st

Wednesdays

Womynspace----------------------------  7-9pm See 1 Calgary Outlink  2nd

Communion Service------------------  12:10pm See Knox United Church Women’s Healing Circle---------------  1:30pm See AIDS Calgary Free Pool-------------------------------  All Day At 4 Calgary Eagle with Prime Timers Calgary Badminton--------------------------------- 7pm See Apollo Calgary Sep8Dec15 Bowling------------------------------------ 7pm Sep1Mar30 See Apollo Calgary

New Directions--------------------------  7-9pm  3rd See 1 Calgary Outlink Heading Out-----------------------  8pm-10pm  4th See 1 Calgary Outlink Alcoholics Anonymous---------------------  8pm

 Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance) 1227 Kensington Close NW Saturdays

Running------------------------------------  9am See Apollo Calgary

6 Goliaths-------------------------------------✰

 308 - 17 Ave SW  403-229-0911  www.goliaths.ca  Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day

Community Groups 2 AIDS Calgary---------------------------- ✰

 110, 1603 10th Avenue SW  403-508-2500  info@aidscalgary.org  www.aidscalgary.org

Alberta Society for Kink

 403-398-9968  albetasocietyforkink@hotmail.com  http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/

group.albertasocietyforkink 18

Sundays

Worship Time----------------------------  10am See Deer Park United Church Worship------------------------------  10:30am See Scarboro United Church Boot Camp (B)----------------  10:30am-12pm See Apollo Calgary Sep12 Worship Services-------------------------  11am See Knox United Church Int/Comp Volleyball-----------  12:15-1:45pm See Apollo Calgary BBQ Social Sundays----------------------- 2pm At 4 Calgary Eagle Church Service----------------------------- 4pm See Rainbow Community Church Swimming-------------------------------  5-6pm

By Different Strokes

 SAIT Pool (1301 - 16 Ave NW) Women’s Volleyball----------------  7-8:30pm See Apollo Calgary Sunday Socials----------------------  Afternoon At 4 Calgary Eagle Free Pool-------------------------------  All Day At 4 Calgary Eagle Wednesday, June 1st

1st Anniversary Party------------------  All Day At 9 FAB Saturday, June 4th

Fundraising Pool Party------------  2pm-12am

By ARGRA  Chateau Aubergine Urban Spa Resort 2320 Sunset Ave SW

Sunday, June 12th

Annual General Meeting----------------  12pm

By ISCCA at 4 Calgary Eagle Sunday, June 18th

Taste Buds Dinner-----------------------  12pm

By Girlfriends  FUZE (B, 2116 - 4th St. SW) GAYmazing Race-----------------------  2-5pm

By Pride Calgary starting at 9 FAB Wednesday, June 22nd

Year Ender Awards Night----------  5:30-9pm

By Apollo at 60 Club Sapien Thursday, June 23rd

Annual General Meeting---------------  5-7pm By 2 AIDS Calgary  Fort Calgary (750 - 9th Ave SE) Monday, June 27th

Annual General Meeting---------------  6-9pm By 1 Calgary Outlink Wednesday, June 29th

Wet Jockey Contest-------------------- Evening At 4 Calgary Eagle June 2011

Calgary Comic & Ent. Expo--------  All Day

Jun17Jun19 ARGRA Rodeo----------------------  All Day

Jun30Jul3 July 2011

Rodeo Afterparty----------------------  All Day

By ARGRA at 3 Backlot Jul4 Drag Queen H20-------------------------- 8pm

By ISCCA at 3 Backlot Jul8 Camp fYrefly Alberta------------------  All Day

Jul28Jul31

Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range/Future),  = Sponsored Event

 Calgary Contd.

Bathhouses/Saunas

Tuned Out Music Trivia----------------  Evening At 9 FAB  1st, 3rd

Wednesday, June 8th

Apollo Calgary - Friends in Sports

 www.apollocalgary.com  www.myapollo.com

A volunteer operated, non-profit organization serving primarily members of the LGBT communities but open to all members of all communities.

Primary focus is to provide members with wellorganized and fun sporting events and other activities.

• Western Cup 29 

www.westerncup.com North America’s largest LGBT sporting competition with over 400 athletes in up to seven different sports.

• Badminton (Absolutely Smashing)

 6020 - 4 Avenue NE  badminton@apollocalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

• Biking  bike@apollocalgary.com

• Lawn Bowling

 lawnbowling@apollocalgary.com

• Boot Camp

 Platoon FX, 1351 Aviation Park NE  bootcamp@apollocalgary.com

• Outdoor Pursuits

 outdoorpursuits@apollocalgary.com If it’s done outdoors, we do it. Volunteer led events all summer and winter. Hiking, camping, biking, skiing, snow shoeing, etc. Sign up at myapollo.org to get updates on the sport you like. We’re always looking for people to lead events.

• Bowling (Rainbow Riders League)

 Let’s Bowl (2916 5th Avenue NE)  bowling@apollocalgary.com • Curling

 North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW)  curling@apollocalgary.com Will return in September 2010. Sign up at myapollo.org to receive updates.

• Golf

 golf@apollocalgary.com

• Running (Calgary Frontrunners)  YMCA Eau Claire (4th St, 1st Ave SW)  calgaryfrontrunners@shaw.ca East Doors (directly off the Bow river pathway).

Distances vary from 8 km - 15 km. Runners from 6 minutes/mile to 9+ minute miles.

• Slow Pitch  slow.pitch@apollocalgary.com www.gaycalgary.com

Directory & Events  Calgary Contd.

• Squash  Mount Royal University Recreation  squash@apollocalgary.com All skill levels welcome.

• Tennis  tennis@apollocalgary.com • Volleyball (Beach)  beachvb@apollocalgary.com • Volleyball (Int/Comp)

 West Hillhurst Community Center 1940 6th Avenue NW  vb@apollocalgary.com • Volleyball (Recreational)

 235 - 18 Ave SW  recvb@apollocalgary.com

Calgary’s ONLY Drag King Show. Early show 7:30pm, late show 9pm.

Calgary Queer Book Club

 Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW)

Mystique is primarily a Lesbian group for women 30 and up but all are welcome.

 bearcoltr@shaw.ca

 http://www.rockymountainbears.com

• Coffee Night

 Second Cup (2312 - 4th Street SW)

 http://www.safetyrainbow.ca

NETWORKS  networkscalgary@gmail.com A social, cultural, and service organization for the mature minded and “Plus 40” LGBT individuals seeking to meet others at age-appropriate activities within a positive, safe environment.

 134 Scarboro Avenue SW  403-244-1161  www.scarborounited.ab.ca

Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre  403-278-8263

 77 Deerpoint Road SE  http://www.dpuc.ca

Different Strokes

 http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org

• Volleyball (Women’s)

 YWCA Calgary (320 - 5th Avenue SE)  vbwomen@apollocalgary.com • Yoga

 World Tree Studio (812 Edmonton Trail NE)

 Robin: 403-618-9642  yoga@apollocalgary.com $120 (10 sessions); $14 Drop-ins open to all levels. Apollo membership is required.

Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA)  www.argra.org

• Monthly Dances-----------------------------  Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association 1320 - 5th Avenue NW Artists for the Quality of Life

 403-890-1261

• Calgary Lesbian Ladies Meet up Group • Between Men and Between Men Online • Heading Out • Illusions Calgary • Inside Out • New Directions • Womynspace

 www.afqol.com

Don’t Buy In Project

 http://www.dontbuyin.ca This Calgary Police Service Initiative aims to encourage youth to working towards an inclusive environment in which diversity is embraced in their schools and community.

FairyTales Presentation Society  403-244-1956

 http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

• DVD Resource Library Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual membership is $10.

Gay Friends in Calgary

 http://www.gayfriendsincalgary.ca

Organizes and hosts social activities catered to the LGBT people and friends.

Calgary Gay Fathers

 calgaryfathers@hotmail.com  http://www.calgarygayfathers.ca Peer support group for gay, bisexual and questioning fathers. Meeting twice a month.

Girl Friends

 girlfriends@shaw.ca

 members.shaw.ca/girlfriends

Calgary Men’s Chorus

 http://www.calgarymenschorus.org

Hillhurst United Church

 1227 Kensington Close NW  (403) 283-1539  office@hillhurstunited.com  www.hillhurstunited.com

• Rehearsals

 Temple B’Nai Tikvah, 900 - 47 Avenue SW Calgary Sexual Health Centre---------- ✰

Girlsgroove

 http://www.girlsgroove.ca

 304, 301 14th Street NW  403-283-5580  http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca

HIV Peer Support Group

 403-230-5832  hivpeergroup@yahoo.ca

A pro-choice organization that believes all people have the right and ability to make their own choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health.

ISCCA Social Association

 http://www.iscca.ca Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch.

Charity fundraising group..

1 Calgary Outlink-----------------------------✰

 B1, 1528 16th Avenue SW  403-234-8973  info@calgaryoutlink.ca  http://www.calgaryoutlink.com

• Peer Support and Crisis Line  1-877-OUT-IS-OK (1-877-688-4765) Front-line help service for GLBT individuals and their family and friends, or anyone questioning their sexuality.

Knox United Church

 506 - 4th Street SW  403-269-8382  http://www.knoxunited.ab.ca

Knox United Church is an all-inclusive church located in downtown Calgary. A variety of facility rentals are also available for meetings, events and concerts.

• Worship Services

 10:30am in July and August.

Miscellaneous Youth Network  http://www.miscyouth.com

• Fake Mustache  Quincy’s (609 7th Ave SW)  Club Sapien (609 7th Ave SW) www.gaycalgary.com

• Mosaic Youth Group  The Old Y Centre (223 12th Ave SW) For queer and trans youth and their allies.

Mystique

 mystiquesocialclub@yahoo.com

Parents for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

 Sean: 403-695-5791  http://www.pflagcanada.ca A registered charitable organization that provides support, education and resources to parents, families and individuals who have questions or concerns about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Positive Space Committee

 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW  403-440-6383  http://www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace Works to raise awareness and challenge the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize LGBTTQ individuals.

Pride Calgary Planning Committee  www.pridecalgary.ca

 403-797-6564

Pride Rainbow Project

 prp@planet-save.com  http://www.priderainbowproject.com Youth run project designed to show support for same-sex marriage in Canada and elsewhere. A fabric rainbow banner approximately 5 feet wide goal is to make it 3.2km (2 miles) long, in order to break the world record.

Primetimers Calgary

 primetimerscalgary@gmail.com  http://www.primetimerscalgary.com

Designed to foster social interaction for its members through a variety of social, educational and recreational activities. Open to all gay and bisexual men of any age, respects whatever degree of anonymity that each member desires.

• Free Pool

 4 Calgary Eagle • Saturday Coffee

 Midtown Co-op, 1130 - 11th Ave SW

Queers on Campus---------------------- ✰

 279R Student Union Club Spaces, U of C  403-220-6394  http://www.ucalgary.ca/~glass

Formerly GLASS - Gay/Lesbian Association of Students and Staff.

• Coffee Night

 2nd Cup, Kensington

Rainbow Community Church

 Hillhurst United, 1227 Kensington Close NW  roneberly@shaw.ca  http://www.rainbowcommunitychurch.ca

The Rainbow Community Church is an all-inclusive church; everyone is welcome.

Rocky Mountain Bears

Safety Under the Rainbow Mission: To raise awareness and understanding of same-sex domestic violence and homophobic youth bullying.

Scarboro United Church An affirming congregation—the full inclusion of LGBT people is essential to our mission and purpose.

Sharp Foundation

 403-272-2912  sharpfoundation@nucleus.com  http://www.thesharpfoundation.com

Unity Bowling

 Let’s Bowl (2916 - 5th Ave NE)  sundayunity@live.com

Urban Sex Radio Show

 CJSW 90.9 FM

 http://www.cjsw.com Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual lesbian trans gendered and straight issues here in Calgary and around the web.

Western Canada Bigmen and Admirers

 groups.yahoo.com/group/

WesternCanadaBigmenGroup/  bigpaul41@yahoo.com Vigor Calgary

 403-255-7004

 www.vigorcalgary.ca Violence in Gay Male Relationships (VIGOR) is a committee of professionals dedicated to increasing the awareness of gay men’s domestic violence and the services available to them.

Wild Rose United Church

 1317-1st Street NW

“Yeah...What She Said!” Radio Show

 CJSW 90.9 FM

 yeahwhatshesaid@gmail.com

Restaurants 4 Calgary Eagle Inc.--------------------- See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.

✰

60 Club Sapien------------------------------ ✰  1140 10th Ave SW  403-457-4464  http://www.clubsapien.ca 9 FAB (formerly Money Pennies)------- See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.

✰

Halo Steak, Seafood & Wine Bar

 Canyon Meadows Plaza

13226 Macleod Trail SE  403-271-4111  www.halorestaurant.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

19

Directory & Events DOWNTOWN EDMONTON

1

5

7 11 6 12

3

N

4 14

1 Pride Centre------------- Community Groups 3 HIV Network------------- Community Groups 4 Edmonton STD---------- Community Groups

5 The Junction------------------ Bars and Clubs 6 Buddy’s Nite Club------------ Bars and Clubs 7 Down Under Baths--------------- Bathhouses

8 Prism Bar & Grill------------- Bars and Clubs 11 Steamworks---------------------- Bathhouses 12 Woody’s----------------------- Bars and Clubs

13 PLAY Nightclub--------------- Bars and Clubs 14 FLASH------------------------- Bars and Clubs

 Calgary Contd.

59 Village Bistro & Lounge------------------  2F, 610 8th Ave SE  403-262-6342 ext 236  M-R: 9am-4pm, F: 9am-5pm, S: 11am-5pm  www.villagebistrocalgary.com

Retail Stores Adult Depot----------------------------- ✰  403-258-2777 Gay, bi, straight video rentals and sex toys.

 140, 58th Ave SW

61 Holidays on the Hill-----------------------  210 - 7th Ave SW  403-263-3030

Christmas, Halloween, and much more.

41 La Fleur------------------------------------  103 - 100 7th Avenue SW  403-266-1707

Florist and Flower Shop.

The Naked Leaf---------------------------  305 10th Street NW  403-283-3555  http://www.thenakedleaf.ca Organic teas and tea ware.

16 Priape Calgary------------------------- ✰

 1322 - 17 Ave SW  403-215-1800  http://www.priape.com

Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear, movies and magazines. Gifts.

Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. See Canada - Retail Stores.

20

Services & Products Calgary Civil Marriage Centre  ca.ca@shaw.ca Marriage Commissioner for Alberta (aka Justice of the Peace - JP), Marriage Officiant, Commissioner for Oaths.  403-246-4134

24 Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors)

 1138 Kensington Road NW  403-571-5120  http://www.courtneyaarbo.ca

GLBT legal services.

Cruiseline

 403-777-9494 trial code 3500  http://www.cruiseline.ca

Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY. DevaDave Salon & Boutique

 810 Edmonton Trail NE  403-290-1973 Cuts, Colour, Hilights.

Duncan’s Residential Cleaning  Jim Duncan: 403-978-6600

Residential cleaning. Free estimates.

Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors)

 403-461-9195  http://www.lornedoucette.com

Marnie Campbell (Maxwell Realtors)

 403-479-8619  http://www.marniecampbell.ca

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

MFM Communications

 403-543-6970  1-877-543-6970  http://www.mfmcommunications.com

Web site hosting and development. Computer hardware and software.

MPs Catering

 403-607-8215 SafeWorks Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing.

• Calgary Drop-in Centre

 Room 117, 423 - 4th Ave SE  403-699-8216  Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm, Sat: 12:15pm-3:15pm • Centre of Hope

 Room 201, 420 - 9th Ave SE  403-410-1180  Mon-Fri: 1pm-5pm • Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre

 1213 - 4th Str SW  403-955-6014  Sat-Thu: 4:15pm-7:45pm, Fri: Closed

• Safeworks Van

 403-850-3755  Sat-Thu: 8pm-12am, Fri: 4pm-12am

Theatre & Fine Arts 36 ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects

 403-294-7402  http://www.ATPlive.com

AXIS Contemporary Art------------------- 403-262-3356  www.axisart.ca

 107, 100 - 7 Ave SW  rob@axisart.ca

Fairytales See Calgary - Community Groups.

Jubilations Dinner Theatre  Bow Trail and 37th St. SW  403-249-7799  www.jubilations.ca 43 Lisa Heinricks (Artist)---------------------  Art Central, 100 7th Ave SW, lower level  http://www.creamydreamy.com 35 One Yellow Rabbit-------------------------  Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE  403-299-8888  www.oyr.org 37 Pumphouse Theatre------------------  2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW  403-263-0079  http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca

✰

Stagewest-------------------------------

✰

 727 - 42 Avenue SE  403-243-6642  http://www.stagewestcalgary.com 58 Theatre Junction----------------------  Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1st St. SW  403-205-2922  info@theatrejunction.com  http://www.theatrejunction.com

✰

www.gaycalgary.com

Directory & Events  Calgary Contd.

34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------------------  161, 115 - 9 Ave SE  403-221-3708  http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com

EDMONTON Bars & Clubs 6 Buddy’s Nite Club--------------------------✰

 11725 Jasper Ave  780-488-6636 14 FLASH---------------------------------------✰

 10018 105 Street  780-938-2941  flashnightclub@hotmail.com 5 The Junction---------------------------- ✰

 10242 106th St  780-756-5667  http://www.junctionedmonton.com

PLAY Nightclub (closed)-------------------✰

 10220 103 Street  780-497-7529  info@playnightclub.ca  http://www.playnightclub.ca

 Edmonton Contd.

Group of older gay men and their admirers who come from diverse backgrounds but have common social interests. Affiliated with Prime Timers World Wide.

Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

 3379, 11215 Jasper Ave  780-429-5014  http://www.edmontonrba.org

Primary focus is the provision of networking opportunities for LGBT owned or operated and LGBTfriendly businesses in the Edmonton region.

Edmonton Illusions Social Club

 5 Boots Bar & Grill  780-387-3343

 groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions 4 Edmonton STD

 11111 Jasper Ave

Edmonton Vocal Minority

 780-479-2038  sing@evmchoir.com www.evmchoir.com  3 HIV Network Of Edmonton Society---- ✰  9702 111 Ave NW  www.hivedmonton.com

Prism Bar & Grill (closed)------------- ✰

 10524 101st St  780-990-0038  http://www.prismbar.ca

Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose

 http://www.iscwr.ca

12 Woody’s-------------------------------------✰

 11725 Jasper Ave  780-488-6557

 University of Alberta, basement of SUB  outreach@ualberta.ca  http://www.ualberta.ca/~outreach

Bathhouses/Saunas 7 Down Under Baths-------------------------✰

 12224 Jasper Ave  780-482-7960  http://www.gayedmonton.com 11 Steamworks--------------------------------✰

 11745 Jasper Ave  780-451-5554  http://www.steamworksedmonton.com

Community Groups Alberta Bears

 www.beefbearbash.com

AltView Foundation

 #44, 48 Brentwood Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB

 403-398-9968  info@altview.ca  www.altview.ca

For gender variant and sexual minorities.

Book Worm’s Book Club  Howard McBride Chapel of Chimes 10179 - 108 Street  bookworm@teamedmonton.ca Buck Naked Boys Club

 780-471-6993  http://www.bucknakedboys.ca Naturism club for men—being social while everyone is naked, and it does not include sexual activity.

Participants do not need to be gay, only male.

Camp fYrefly

 7-104 Dept. of Educational Policy Studies

Faculty of Education, University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G5  http://www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca Edmonton Pride Festival Society (EPFS)

 http://www.edmontonpride.ca

Edmonton Prime Timers  edmontonpt@yahoo.ca  www.primetimersww.org/edmonton www.gaycalgary.com

OUTreach

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender/transsexual, Queer, Questioning and Straight-but-not-Narrow student group.

1 Pride Centre of Edmonton-------------- ✰

 95A Street, 111 Ave  780-488-3234  admin@pridecentreofedmonton.org

• PFLAG

 Red room - Downstairs  780-436-1998  edmontonab@pflagcanada.ca Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: A support group for family members and friends of GLBT people. An excellent resource for people whose family members and friends have just come out.

• Prime Timers See Edmonton Primetimers.

• Suit Up and Show Up: AA Big Book Study

 Downstairs Couch Area Discussion and support group for those struggling with an alcohol addiction or seeking support in staying sober.

• TTIQ

 Green Room – Upstairs  admin@pridecentreofedmonton.org TTIQ is mixed gender open support group addressing the needs of transsexual and transgendered individuals.

• Womonspace Board Meeting

 Main Space – Upstairs  wspresident@hotmail.com Womonspace is a Social and Recreational Society in Edmonton run by volunteers. They provide opportunities for lesbians to interact and support each other in a safe environment, and to contribute to the broader community.

• Youth Movie

 Main Space – Upstairs  brendan@pridecentreofedmonton.org Movie chosen by youth (aged 14 – 25), usually with LGBT themes. Popcorn is served.

• Community Potluck

 Main Space – Upstairs

 tuff@shaw.ca A potluck open to all members of the LGBTQ community. A time to get together, share a meal and meet people from the community.

• YouthSpace

 brendan@pridecentreofedmonton.org A safe and supportive space for GLBTQ youth aged 13–25. Video games, computers with internet, clothing bank, and more.

• Free School

 Main Space – Upstairs  monika_penner@shaw.ca Free School provides workshops on a variety of topics related to local activism.

 president@teamedmonton.ca  http://www.teamedmonton.ca

• Get Tested for STIs Free STD testing for anyone interested. For more information please contact the Pride Centre.

• GLBT Seniors Drop-In

 SAGE building, Classroom B 15 Sir Winstone Churchill Square  tuff@shaw.ca A social and support group for seniors of all genders and sexualities to talk, have tea and offer each other support.

• Men Talking with Pride

 Main Space – Upstairs

 robwells780@hotmail.com A social discussion group for gay, bisexual and transgendered men to discuss current issues and to offer support to each other.

• Men’s HIV Support Group

 Green Room – Upstairs  huges@shaw.ca Support group for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Team Edmonton Members are invited to attend and help determine the board for the next term. If you are interested in running for the board or getting involved in some of the committees, please contact us.

• Badminton (Mixed)

 St. Thomas Moore School, 9610 165 Street

 coedbadminton@teamedmonton.ca New group seeking male & female players.

• Badminton (Women’s)

 Oliver School, 10227 - 118 Street  780-465-3620

 badminton@teamedmonton.ca Women’s Drop-In Recreational Badminton. $40.00 season or $5.00 per drop in.

•Ballroom Dancing

 Foot Notes Dance Studio, 9708-45 Avenue NW  Cynthia: 780-469-3281 • Blazin’ Bootcamp

 Garneau Elementary School 10925 - 87 Ave  bootcamp@teamedmonton.ca

• Bowling (Northern Titans)

 Ed’s Rec Room (West Edmonton Mall)

 bowling@teamedmonton.ca $15.00 per person.

• Cross Country Skiing  crosscountry@teamedmonton.ca • Curling with Pride

 Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 Street NW  curling@teamedmonton.ca • Cycling (Edmonton Prideriders)

 Various locations in Edmonton  cycling@teamedmonton.ca • Dragon Boat (Flaming Dragons)

 dragonboat@teamedmonton.ca • Golf  golf@teamedmonton.ca • Gymnastics, Drop-in

 Ortona Gymnastics Club, 8755 - 50 Avenue  gymnastics@teamedmonton.ca Have the whole gym to yourselves and an instructor to help you achieve your individual goals. Cost is $5.00 per session.

• Hockey  hockey@teamedmonton.ca • Martial Arts

 15450 - 105 Ave (daycare entrance)  780-328-6414  kungfu@teamedmonton.ca  kickboxing@teamedmonton.ca Drop-ins welcome.

• Outdoor Pursuits

 outdoorpursuits@teamedmonton.ca • Running (Arctic Frontrunners)

 Emily Murphy Park, west end  running@teamedmonton.ca All genders and levels of runners and walkers are invited to join this free activity.

• Slo Pitch

 Parkallen Field, 111 st and 68 ave  slo-pitch@teamedmonton.ca Season fee is $30.00 per person. $10 discount for players from the 2008 season.

• Snowballs V

 January 27-29, 2012  snowballs@teamedmonton.ca Skiing and Snowboarding Weekend.

• Soccer

 soccer@teamedmonton.ca • Spin

 MacEwan Centre for Sport and Wellness 109 St. and 104 Ave  Wednesdays, 5:45-6:45pm Season has ended.  spin@teamedmonton.ca 7 classes, $28.00 per registrant.

• Swimming (Making Waves)

 NAIT Pool (11762 - 106 Street)  swimming@teamedmonton.ca  www.makingwavesswimclub.ca

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

21

Directory & Events Edmonton Events Mondays

Boot Camp------------------------------  7-8pm See Team Edmonton Men’s HIV Support Group--------------  7-9pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  2nd Curling---------------------------------  7:15pm See Team Edmonton Oct4Mar21 Tuesdays

GLBT Seniors Drop-in------------------  1-4pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton TTIQ-------------------------------------  2-4pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  2nd Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton Bowling-----------------------------  6:45-9pm Sept7Mar15 See Team Edmonton Community Potluck---------------------  7-9pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  Last Recreational Volleyball--------  8:30-10:30pm See Team Edmonton Oct5 Swimming-----------------------  7:30-8:30pm May19 See Team Edmonton Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm See Team Edmonton Wednesdays

PFLAG---------------------------------  12:10pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  1st Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton Youth Sports/Recreation------------------ 4pm See Youth Understanding Youth

Youth Understanding Youth------------  7-9pm At 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Youth Movie Night------------------  6:30-8:30 See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Mixed Badminton----------------------  8-10pm See Team Edmonton Jan13End of May

Youth Understanding Youth------------  7-9pm At 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Thursdays

Saturdays

GLBT Seniors Drop-in------------------  1-4pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton

Naturalist Gettogether---------------------- ???

See Buck Naked Boys Club  2nd

Get Tested for STIs----------------------  3-6pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  Last

AA Big Book Study--------------------  12-1pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton

Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton

Monthly Meeting-----------------------  2:30pm

By Edmonton Primetimers  2nd  Unitarian Church, 10804 - 119th Street

Youth Sports/Recreation------------------ 4pm See Youth Understanding Youth GLBT African Group----------------------- 6pm  2nd At 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton Swimming-------------------------------  7-8pm See Team Edmonton May19

Youthspace--------------------------  3-6:30pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton Bowling------------------------------------ 5pm See Team Edmonton Sundays

Youth Understanding Youth------------  7-9pm At 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Running------------------------------  10-11am See Team Edmonton

Book Club------------------------------  7:30pm  3rd See BookWorm’s Book Club

Free School----------------------------  11-5pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  2nd, 4th

Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm See Team Edmonton

Womonspace Meeting---------  12:30-1:30pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  1st

Intermediate Volleyball--------  7:30-9:30pm See Team Edmonton

Yoga---------------------------------  2-3:30pm See Team Edmonton

Fridays

Men Talking with Pride----------------  7-9pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton

Edmonton Illusions--------------------  8:30pm  2nd At 5 The Junction Youthspace--------------------------  3-6:30pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton Youth Sports/Recreation------------------ 4pm See Youth Understanding Youth

Ballroom Dancing--------------  7:30-8:30pm See Team Edmonton

• Ultimate Frisbee  Sundays Summer Season starts July 12th  ultimatefrisbee@teamedmonton.ca E-mail if interested.

• Volleyball, Intermediate

 Amiskiwacy Academy (101 Airport Road)  volleyball@teamedmonton.ca • Volleyball, Recreational

 Mother Teresa School (9008 - 105 Ave)  recvolleyball@teamedmonton.ca • Women’s Lacrosse

 Sharon: 780-461-0017  Pam: 780-436-7374 Open to women 21+, experienced or not, all are welcome. Call for info.

• Yoga

 Lion's Breath Yoga Studio (10350-124 Street)  yoga@teamedmonton.ca

22

Black Ball---------------------------------- 9pm

By WCLS/LB at 5 The Junction Thursday, June 16th

Annual BBQ-----------------------------  6-9pm

By AltView Foundation  Sherwood Park United Church Saturday, June 18th

Gay Edmonton Pageant---------------  6-10pm

By ISCWR  Hellenic Hall (10450 - 116 St.) Stand Up and Dance--------------  10pm-3am

By Edmonton Pride Week Society  Hellenic Hall (10450 - 116 St.) Wednesday, June 22nd

Our Proud Voices----------------------  7:30pm

By EVM  Catalyst Theatre (8529 Gateway Boulevard) Thursday, June 23rd

Our Proud Voices----------------------  7:30pm

By EVM  Catalyst Theatre (8529 Gateway Boulevard) Saturday, June 25th

Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy-----  8-11:30pm

By ISCWR at 5 The Junction June 2011

Edmonton Pride----------------------  12pm Jun10Jun18

By Pride Edmonton

Monthly Meetings---------------------- 2:30pm  Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street)  2nd See Edmonton Primetimers

Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range),  = Sponsored Event

 Edmonton Contd.

• Tennis

 Kinsmen Sports Centre  Sundays, 12pm-3pm

 tennis@teamedmonton.ca

Friday, June 3rd

Womonspace

 780-482-1794  womonspace@gmail.com  www.womonspace.ca

Women’s social group, but all welcome at events.

Youth Understanding Youth

 780-248-1971  www.yuyedm.ca A support and social group for queer youth 12-25.

• Sports and Recreation  Brendan: 780-488-3234  brendan@pridecentreofedmonton.org

Restaurants 5 The Junction-------------------------------  10242 106th St  780-756-5667 12 Woody’s-------------------------------------✰  780-488-6557

 11725 Jasper Ave

Retail Stores Rodéo Drive

 11528 - 89th Street  780-474-0413  brendalee@rodeodrive.ca  http://www.rodeodrive.ca His and hers fetish wear, toys, jewelry, etc.

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

Products & Services Cruiseline

 780-413-7122 trial code 3500  http://www.cruiseline.ca

Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY. Robertson-Wesley United Church

 10209 - 123 St. NW  780-482-1587  jravenscroft@rwuc.org  www.rwuc.org  Worship: Sunday mornings at 10:30am

People of all sexual orientations welcome. Other LGBT events include a monthly book club and a bi-monthly film night. As a caring spiritual community, we’d love to have you join us!

• Soul OUTing

 Second Sunday every month, 7pm An LGBT-focused alternative worship.

• Film Night

 Bi-monthly, contact us for exact dates.

• Book Club

 Monthly, contact us for exact dates.

Theatre & Fine Arts Exposure Festival

 http://www.exposurefestival.ca Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival.

The Roxy Theatre

 10708 124th Street, Edmonton AB  780-453-2440  www.theatrenetwork.ca

BANFF/CANMORE Community Groups Mountain Pride

 BOX 4892, BANFF, AB, T1L 1G1

 Brian, 403-431-2569  1-800-958-9632  members@gaybanff.com  www.gaybanff.com Serving the GLBTQS community in Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise and Area.

GRANDE PRAIRIE Community Groups GALAP

 10113 - 103 Ave, T8V 1C2

 780-512-1990 Gay and Lesbian Association of the Peace. www.gaycalgary.com

Lethbridge Events June 2011

Lethbride Pride Fest-------------------  All Day

Jun18Jun26

 Edmonton Contd.

• Wednesday Coffee Nights

LETHBRIDGE Community Groups GALA/LA

 403-308-2893  http://www.galalethbridge.ca

Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and Area.

ALBERTA Community Groups Central Alberta AIDS Network Society

 4611-50 Avenue, Red Deer, AB  http://www.caans.org

The Central Alberta AIDS Network Society is the local charity responsible for HIV prevention and support in Central Alberta.

• Monthly Dances

 Henotic (402 - 2 Ave S) Bring your membership card and photo ID.

Western Canadian Pride Campout  www.eventmasterinc.net

• Monthly Potluck Dinners

 McKillop United Church, 2329 - 15 Ave S GALA/LA will provide the turkey...you bring the rest.

Please bring a dish to share that will serve 4-6 people, and your own beverage.

 http://www.youthsafe.net

• Support Line

 403-308-2893  Monday OR Wednesday, 7pm-11pm Leave a message any other time.

• Friday Mixer

 The Mix (green water tower) 103 Mayor Magrath Dr S  Every Friday at 10pm Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA)

 University of Lethbridge  galia@uleth.ca

GBLTTQQ club on campus.

• Movie Night

 Room C610, University of Lethbridge Gay Youth Alliance Group

 Betty, 403-381-5260  bneil@chr.ab.ca  Every second Wednesday, 3:30pm-5pm

Lethbridge HIV Connection

 1206 - 6 Ave S

PFLAG Canada

 1-888-530-6777

 lethbridgeab@pflagcanada.ca  www.pflagcanada.ca

Pride Lethbridge

 lethbridgepridefest@gmail.com

RED DEER Community Groups Affirm

 Sunnybrook United Church  403-347-6073  2nd Tuesday of the month, 7pm Composed of LGBTQ people, their friends, family and allies. No religious affiliation necessary.

Activities include support, faith and social justice discussions, film nights, and potlucks! www.gaycalgary.com

YouthSafe Alberta’s website for youth with sex-and-gender differences. Youthsafe.net lists the resources, information and services to help youth find safe and caring spaces in Alberta.

Theatre & Fine Arts Alberta Ballet

 http://www.albertaballet.com Frequent productions in Calgary and Edmonton.

CANADA Community Groups Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group

 http://www.albertatrans.org

A nexus for transgendered persons, regardless of where they may be on the continuum.

Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition

 P..O. Box 3043, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 3S9  (306) 955-5135  1-800-955-5129  http://www.rainbowhealth.ca

Egale Canada

 8 Wellington St E, Third Floor

Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1C5  1-888-204-7777  www.egale.ca Egale Canada is the national advocacy and lobby organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transidentified people and our families.

Products & Services Squirt

 http://www.squirt.org Website for dating and hook-ups. 18+ ONLY!

Theatre & Fine Arts Broadway Across Canada

 http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca OUTtv

 http://www.outtv.ca

GLBT Television Station.

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

23

Politics

A Silencing That Echoes

Jan Buterman Refuses to Be Quiet and Just Go Away

By Stephen Lock The Catholic Church prides itself on being compassionate and doing God’s will on Earth, or some such thing. But when it comes to the day-to-day realities, we too often see “The Church” clutching desperately to its medieval principles and being somewhat less than “compassionate.”

That the Church is no bastion of liberal, progressive thought is a given - nor would I expect it to be, to be honest. But I do expect it and its leaders to employ logic and understanding when dealing with sensitive issues. Adherence to dogma is one thing; being dogmatic is quite another. Too often Church leaders opt for being dogmatic and rigid in reaching their decision, rather than anything approaching compassionate.

For instance, take the case of Jan Buterman, an Edmonton substitute teacher who was fired by the Greater St. Albert Catholic School District because he is a female-to-male transsexual. Being trans, apparently, is contrary to Church teachings that state God created each of us in the gender we are.

Mr. Buterman was offered a cash settlement of $78,000 and the guarantee of a one year teaching contract on the condition he not discuss the case he brought against the school district. He refused the offer, stating that as a prominent activist and academic he could not afford to be muzzled and silenced. He recently began a master’s degree in education policies at the University of Alberta.

The confidentiality clause would hamper his future work, including an upcoming presentation in May at an academic conference in Fredericton.

Setting aside the whole discussion of creation versus evolution, I think it is pretty safe to say that in the eras since Adam and Eve, humans are not so much “created” as “born”. Each new life emerges through a complex series of biological sequences and comes out the other end of the process as a human being, or becomes one at some point during the process, depending on your beliefs. Sometimes the process goes awry and an individual is born intersexed (possessing the characteristics of both sexes to varying degrees, including chromosomal...what used to be referred to as hermaphroditism) or transsexual (the physicality of one gender with the essence or inner self of the other).

Intersexed infants and young children often are subjected to medical intervention to “correct” the anomaly, and then raised in the newly-assigned gender; a highly controversial procedure in itself as it too often does not take into account the ‘true’ gender of the child or, in some instances, the true genders. Current medical thought and practice tends to reinforce the binary view of gender, that humans come as either male or female, period, and dismisses evidence which suggests gender is not quite as set, or as binary, as most of us believe.

In the case of transsexual individuals it is a bit more subtle, for lack of a better way of putting it. There is a disparity between the physical gender (genitalia etc) and the “inner gender”. It often takes years for the individual to come to a realization they are, in fact, transsexual and then move to a medical resolution of their condition: gender reassignment surgery. The whole process of ‘coming out’ as trans is fraught with complexities of its own: trauma, upsets, destroyed relationships or certainly altered ones, financial concerns, and possible job loss. No transperson approaches the decision to transition lightly and none see it as a “choice” in the usual sense of the word. The “choice” is to remain trapped in a body that is not one’s own, and often repulsive to oneself, or to become the person one is by medical intervention. The surgery (actually surgeries) may be a choice but the condition of transsexuality is not, any more than one’s gender is a choice. We all are what we are, it’s just that some of us don’t appear to be what we are.

In Canada, various laws and human rights legislation protect on the basis of gender. Historically, this always referred to not

24

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

discriminating against someone because they are female or, less commonly, because they are male. It is only in recent years this avenue has been used to explore discrimination based on gender identity. Bill Siskay, the then NDP Member of Parliament for Burnaby-Douglas, introduced a private member’s bill in 2005 to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to specifically include gender identity and expression as protected characteristics. It failed. He re-introduced it during every sitting of Parliament since, and in June 2010, Bill C-389 proceeded to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights with little overt opposition from the Conservative government. It passed at report stage by a vote of 143131 and passed its third reading by a vote of 143-135 with members of all parties voting in favour of the Bill.

So, some progress has been made on the legal and legislative level but there is still work to be done as evidenced by the firing of Jan Buterman. As with GLB rights, it is a long and arduous process; society is not always in step with the legislative changes and often offers considerable resistance to those changes. We saw it with equal marriage and other gay and lesbian rights issues over the last thirty years. Trans rights issues lag far behind those gains.

Dan Irving and Jennifer Evans, two faculty members in the Sexual Studies Minor Program at Carleton University, wrote an excellent article for the Globe and Mail in 2010 entitled “Why Canada Should Protect Gender Identity”. In it, they wrote,

”Transsexual and transgendered individuals expose the shortcomings of our narrow categories. Because they trouble [our] vision of male and female, they have been ’socially erased,’ to borrow a term from Concordia Professor Viviane Namaste. The result is a serious dearth in understanding concerning trans identities and everyday experience.

This lack of understanding can take on many forms, from workplace discrimination to physical, emotional and sexual violence. The lack of education concerning the existence of trans people and their various societal contributions has a significantly negative impact on this demographic. Many trans people, especially transsexual women from visible minorities, struggle to gain access to education, employment, health care and essential social services. As a result, many trans persons are placed at high risk of impoverishment, illness, homelessness and violence.”

A we saw with gay and lesbian cases being brought before Human Rights Commissions, there has been criticism around Buterman’s taking this to the “kangaroo court” of the Alberta Human Rights Commission tribunal. However, this was not his first option. He did attempt to go through the courts but, having turned down the financial offer, his lawyers have advised him this will result in the school board moving to dismiss the complaint because a “fair and reasonable” settlement has been put on the table.

The decision likely means the end of the legal process. Buterman was a substitute teacher and therefore couldn’t afford to fight this through the courts unless his lawyers agree to do it pro bono, which does not appear likely. The Alberta Teachers’ Association confirmed it had been paying Buterman’s legal fees. However, a union spokesman says it is no longer doing so based on an evaluation of the “likely outcome” of the case and recommendations from their own lawyers. This heralds the end of the civil process and so the only avenue left to Buterman is a human rights complaint.

Tied up with all this, of course, is the role the Catholic Church plays in its education institutions. It can be argued, and fairly I would say, that Church teachings are part and parcel of Catholic schooling. I have no issue with that when it comes to matters of religion and religious belief, but Buterman taught Social Studies, German and French to students in Grades 7 to 12. Gone are the days that educators within the Catholic school system were drawn

www.gaycalgary.com

exclusively from the ranks of nuns and priests. Teachers in the modern separate school system are secular and not all of them are Catholic, either. Buterman, for instance, is Lutheran - not that it matters. However, the Greater St. Alberta Catholic School System is arguing his “personal choice” to pursue gender reassignment surgery is contrary to Church teachings and therefore the Board had no choice but to fire him.

The deputy superintendent, Steve Bayus, wrote, “[y]our gender change is not aligned with the teachings of the church and would create confusion and complexity with students and parents as a model and witness to Catholic faith values,” yet apparently there was no issue whatsoever with the quality of Buterman’s teaching as it was also noted Buterman “had served the schools well” as a substitute teacher.

Buterman has been quoted as saying he has no desire to have his personal life used as a ‘teaching moment’, and I understand that, but the reality is it is an excellent ‘teaching moment’ and an opportunity to have a discussion with young teens who are, after all, able to grasp the subtleties of life and existence once they are pointed out to them (sometimes better than their parents), about definitions of gender, about diversity, and about the wonders of biological diversity too. I also understand Buterman does not want to become the poster boy for trans rights; the Delwin Vriend case, which dragged on for seven years following his firing from King’s University College for being gay, nearly destroyed Delwin’s personal life. After his Supreme Court win, he disappeared off the public radar. Last I heard he was living in Paris after a stint in San Francisco. But there is a principle at stake here, something larger than Jan Buterman.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2252

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

25

Children’s Wish recognizes ISCCA’s Long-Standing Support  Photo by Stephanie Moore Photography

By Chantal Macleod It was over twenty five years ago that an unlikely partnership was formed between two organizations that, at first glance, seemed to share no common ground. A newly established Children’s Wish Foundation, Alberta & NWT Chapter was approached by the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch (ISCCA) in the hopes that the children’s charity would accept their modest donations. The ISCCA had been raising money through drag performances and other initiatives, yet was unable to find a charity willing to accept their donations.

Ask anyone familiar with ISCCA’s history and they will tell you of the countless ”rejection” letters they received, declining the organization’s donations. Children’s Wish, a national non-profit just establishing themselves in

26

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

Alberta, was happy to receive the funds to help grant wishes to children with life threatening illnesses and their families. Fast forward a quarter of a century and the ISCCA is now part of an elite group of donors whose support of Children’s Wish is exceptional.

Throughout the years, the ISCCA has proven tireless in their efforts to not only provide financial support for Children’s Wish and the families they serve but has strived to build awareness for the cause within the gay and lesbian community and beyond. Don’t be surprised to attend a drag performance and buy a shot in support of Children’s Wish or see brochures on every table! The ISCCA’s commitment to Children’s Wish was further solidified in 1997 when long standing ISCCA member Fred Udey had the opportunity to personally experience the magic of a wish.

www.gaycalgary.com

Q Scopes Relax, Taurus!

Mars in Taurus aspecting Eris in Aries cranks up competitive urges. Be open and flexible. Goals may need adjusting as conditions change.

It was that year that Fred’s twelve year old niece Whitney was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Being familiar with the Foundation’s eligibility criteria, Fred referred his niece for a wish. Once approved, Whitney decided that the one thing she wanted more than anything else in the world was a trip to Disneyland with her family. Fred, Whitney and family enjoyed a week long magical adventure, creating memories fondly remembered to this day. When asked of his favourite moment of the trip Fred shares how while attending a King Arthur themed horse and jousting show, Whitney was picked as the princess to oversee the performance. Whitney was a huge horse lover and dreamed of being a veterinarian so this was an unforgettable moment where Fred had the chance to see his niece living her dream. Sadly, Whitney passed away the year following their trip and Fred and family are now left with the precious memories of that time together. More than three albums worth of photos were captured from the trip.

Fred experienced first hand the magic a wish fulfilled brings to these special children and their families, which in turn fuels his commitment to inspiring others to support Children’s Wish with as much passion and enthusiasm as himself and the ISCCA have shown over the years. This past April, Emperor 34, Fred Wolf-Would and Empress 34, Malibu Stacey, representing the ISCCA, were welcomed by Children’s Wish into Roary’s Pride; an honour reserved for donors whose cumulative donations have exceeded $100,000. This past year alone the ISCCA presented Children’s Wish with a $7,000 donation; one of their more significant annual donations to date.

Accepting the award at the annual Children’s Wish Lighting up Lives Gala was the perfect way to celebrate the long standing relationship between these two organizations and the countless lives that have been touched thanks to the ISCCA. “I have volunteered in one way or another with the ISCCA for 28 years now and I am most proud of the work the organization does and the money we are able to raise for much needed charities,” says Fred. The Children’s wish Foundation echoes the sentiment.

Children’s Wish Foundation 1-800-267-9474 • www.childrenswish.ca http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2253

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments



ARIES (March 20–April 19): You could make a lot or spend

a lot. The competitive urge could drag you either way and even making money could be more strain than it’s worth. What do you have to prove? To whom? Work as hard as you reasonably can.



TAURUS (April 20–May 20): Sometimes it’s not easy being

the strong, reliable one. People are counting on you, so all the more reason why you need to take care of yourself. Take a break. Relax. You’ll hold up better and accomplish more in the long run.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20): As much as you love your



friends, they can wear you down. Maybe you’re trying too hard to be the star of the party? Enjoy being on the sidelines now and then, or just take some time out. Your real friends will understand.



CANCER (June 21–July 22): Friends and colleagues are as eager as you are to see you succeed, but they may be pushing you a little too hard. Keep an eye open to your larger goal, but the trick is still to stay focused on the job at hand.



LEO (July 23–August 22): Remember when to use your

indoor voice, darling! The smart actor knows that whispers can get attention where screaming gets ignored. You will be noticed no matter what, but what do they see?



VIRGO (August 23–September 22): Long, hard and deep is

also how you should think about sex. How does it serve in your life? Are you out to prove something? To pursue satisfaction? To forge a deeper bond? The real question: How does it bring you home?

LIBRA (September 23–October 22): You don’t win or keep a lover by being the best in bed. Open communication keeps love alive. Focus on the small details; be attentive, sexually and otherwise. Being the best mate you can be is not a competitive sport.





SCORPIO (October 23–November 21): At work, remember

that you’re part of a team. That means pacing yourself with your colleagues, not dragging so far ahead that you pull the efforts out of whack. Pushing too hard can also be bad for your health.



SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 20): Pushing too hard at sports or exercise is asking to get hurt. The trick in pushing for a personal best is to expand your limits, not to ignore them. Yes, Saj, even you have limits!



CAPRICORN (December 21–January 19): Getting involved with a community arts or sports program can help you clarify where you really belong in the world, what you’ve learned from elders to pass on to future generations, and what you could be doing for the kids.

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18): Arguments with your family can actually help you to plan better for your future. Don’t be shy about speaking up. The trick is in keeping perspective. Sibling rivalry can spur you to better work, but don’t let it affect you too deeply.



PISCES (February 19–March 19): It’s too easy for spending and arguments to get out of control. Old habits and family traditions can mire you down, interfering with your success.

Keep a clear focus on your goals and act as if your next boss is watching you.



Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977 teaches at the Online College of Astrology : http://www.astrocollege.com. He can be reached for personal or business consultations at 415-864-8302 or through his website at http://www.starjack.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

27

Gossip Monteith, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Mark Salling, Dianna Agron, Naya Rivera, Heather Morris, Harry Shum Jr., Chord Overstreet, Ashley Fink and Darren Criss, which we assume means a squadron of Warblers along for the ride, as well. And sorry, Sue Sylvester fans, Jane Lynch is busy.

Will Star Trek launch a gay into space?

You’d think that after more than a dozen movies and over 700 episodes of six different TV shows, there would have been at least one gay character float across the Star Trek universe by now. But no. Not one. And sorry, that actor in the last movie that everyone says is gay doesn’t count. Neither does George Takei, as awesome as he is. But all of that might change – and here’s where the word “if” comes into play in a major way – if a recent pitch for a new series from a company called 1947 Entertainment can gain traction. Their proposed Trek series would include a gay male character and a lesbian character, which would be a welcome addition to the family of space people audiences have grown attached to over the past 40-plus years. Mind you, the stage this thing is in is as changeable as the atmosphere on an alien planet, subject to destruction in the blink of an eye; there’s no producer, no cast, no deal, no nothing just yet. But go on, get your hopes up. Why shouldn’t it be time for Star Trek to boldly go where no Star Trek has gone before? The answer is: it should be.

Nathan Lane serves an Evil Queen

 George Takei , Photo by Paramont Pictures

Deep Inside Hollywood Johnny Depp is going to get Thin, man

By Romeo San Vicente You can’t tell anyone in Hollywood anything. It seems like, more often than not, that people in positions of power believe they have the secret formula for remaking beloved, classic films in a new, fresh way that won’t alienate audiences. They, alone, are going to be the ones to crack the code and avoid cranking out 100 minutes of pale imitation. Add Johnny Depp and director Rob Marshall to that list, then, of those determined not to leave well enough alone, because both of them have signed on for a remake of the 1934 Oscar-nominated comedy, The Thin Man. The original starred William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, socialites whose hobbies are being witty, drinking cocktails and solving murders. This one will attempt to recapture that magic. All that’s left to do now is to sit back and wait for it to surprise everyone like Ocean’s Eleven or put them to sleep like Gus Van Sant’s Psycho. And though the odds are against it, if anybody can make this work, it’s Depp.

The race to be the first, biggest and best of the three (yes, three) Snow White-themed films coming to theaters just got gayer, with the addition of Nathan Lane to the cast of the asyet-untitled Tarsem Singh-directed adaptation. Julia Roberts and Armie Hammer (The Social Network) are already on board to star in this live-action version and Lane – in between guest spots as his recurring character “Pepper” on Modern Family – will enter the cast as a servant to the Evil Queen who’s got it in for Snow, a man who serves the bad lady out of fear. In other words, this is the kind of wisecracking sidekick role that Lane can do in his sleep. But, then again, no one can do it quite like him, you have to admit. Expect to be as sick of poison apples in 2012 as you are of vampires in 2011, production schedules permitting.

Romeo San Vicente would prefer a version of Snow White where Chris Hemsworth kisses Armie Hammer. Check the GayCalgary.com website every week for more Deep Inside Hollywood!

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2255

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

Glee in 3D Landlocked Gleeks, this one’s for you. GLEE LIVE! 3D! is coming soon to a theater near you. 20th Century Fox TV is rushing a feature film into theaters this August to capitalize on the mania surrounding the show and to immortalize the second summer of concert touring by the cast. Yes, this is a concert film, not an extended, theatrically-installed episode of the show, and will follow in the footsteps of Michael Jackson’s This Is It and Justin Bieber: Never Say Never as a limited-run release (that will, no doubt, extend itself unlimitedly as long as tickets are still selling). It will star usual suspects Lea Michele, Cory 28

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

Lifestyle

Cocktail Chatter The Saketumi

by Ed Sikov ““Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of Judy Carne!” Craig roared at Kyle, who shook visibly from the shock. “I can’t believe how, how, how deficient you are in culture – in theater and television and motion picture history,” Craig berated his boyfriend and my not-so-secret heartthrob. Kyle crept away from him. “Don’t you walk out on me when I’m shrieking at you!” Craig shouted. Kyle defiantly ran upstairs; the poor hunklet was sniffling loudly.

The bedroom door slammed, and we shivered, each for his own reasons.

“You. Pig.” I said in the Bette voice. “You. Insufferable. Pig.” “I know, I know. I’ve been really awful to him lately. The sex turned sour about a month ago. I got a bit Greedy-Little-Piggy and demanded stuff he just wasn’t ready for, and when the sex got dull I suddenly recognized his utter ignorance of everything I cared about.” It took a moment before Craig hurriedly added “except for him” as a pathetic footnote.

I was elated. My brain and balls sang together in joyful a capella, but oh-so-silently. I kept my face less emotive than George Washington’s on Mt. Rushmore, but inside I felt like dancing, singing, writhing – performing some demented cross between a Dionysian ritual and a bar mitzvah, all to the triumphant tune of “We’re in the Money.” That and “Hosanna, hey zanna, zanna zanna ho, zanna hey zanna hosanna….”

But as I said, that was inside. Outside I was merely inane: “Craig, really – he’s far too young for Love on a Rooftop,” I offered.

“Love on a Rooftop my titanic ass!” Craig boomed. “Judy Carne was the ‘Sock it to Me’ girl on Laugh-In! Don’t you even know that? Am I surrounded by cretins?”

“What’s Japanese for eureka?” I replied just as Dan walked in, fresh from a solo beach walk.

“What? “ Craig cried out in desperation. “You do this all the time. It’s so annoying! You say something completely out of left field that makes no sense in the context of the present discussion.”

“All the time,” Dan agreed. “It’s like being dropped into the middle of Molly Bloom’s stream of consciousness, but without the literary pedigree.”

I ignored them, of course. “The Saketumi. It’s this weekend’s cocktail.”

“Ohhhh-kay, I’ll bite. What’s in it?” Dan asked with icy skepticism.

“Gin and sake in the proportions of a martini. I refuse to call it a Saketini, because those ’tini rip-offs should be labeled toxic waste and disposed of by the Federal Bureau of Drinks Management. So in honor of Judy Carne – Dan, don’t ask – I’m making Saketumis for them what wants ’em.”

laugh, I involuntarily snorted. Dan glared at me but with an unmistakable smirk. Paolo and Chipper practically ran toward the deck.

“What?” Phil Levine barked when he turned and caught me gaping at his astounding leather-covered bulge, which was as bull-like as his ego. “Your cell phone,” I lied. “Never without it,” Phil declared. “Might be business on the other end funny business know what I mean?”

Damn! Phil Levine has “it” – that indescribable erotic allure that transcends body type, body hair, facial features, everything. “It men” like Phil are pheromone-reeking catnip to other guys. Especially when wearing nothing but a leather jock.

“The Preakness is this afternoon I’m making Pimm’s Cups if the liquor store carries it they’d better it’s standard stuff and I assume you can get decent cucumbers at the Pantry….” “Of course you can,” I broke in. “But aren’t Pimm’s Cups a summer drink?”

“Eat me,” replied Phil Levine with a grin as he grabbed his enormous package. Then his cell phone rang – the ringtone was “Theme from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” He yammered away about the $250 he had riding on Billy Joe and told whoever it was to come over in 20 minutes; he had to take a shower. Then again maybe he wouldn’t…. He snickered lewdly and hung up, seized his coffee and sped upstairs, presumably to generate more body odor.

Dan’s mouth was slightly open as he stared in the direction Phil’s hairy rear had just taken. He had a distinctly guilty look about him. “Well, it is nicely proportioned,” he tried, but I cut him off. “He runs around the house in licensed Verizon-accessory fetishwear. That damn horse should jump off the Tallahatchie Bridge.” “What?” Dan asked in confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about half the time.” “‘Papa said to Mama as he passed around the black-eyed pea-ee-ee-eas….’” I explained. “I give up,” Dan muttered sadly and headed for the deck.

The liquor store came through with the Pimm’s, of course, and the Pines Pantry had cukes galore – waxed ones, the wrapped European kind, Kirbies….

Phil’s Pimm’s Cups were perfect. I couldn’t stand it. So as we crowded around the television to watch the Preakness – “we” included the stunningly beautiful Malaysian boy who’d spent the day and who now sat on Phil’s lap – I had to be just a little snide. “The Pimm’s Cups are terrific, Phil,” I said. “Too bad it’s such a chilly afternoon.” There was cosmic justice to back me up: Billy Joe came in fifth.

The Pimm’s Cup 2 ounce Pimm’s #1 Ginger Ale to taste (Canada Dry is fine, but be a snob and use one with a stronger ginger flavor) Thin slices of cucumber

How appropriate the old toast “bottoms up” becomes when the subject is you.

The Saketumi 4 parts Beefeater gin or Absolut vodka 1 part dry sake Fill shaker with ice. Pour liquors in. It just needs to chill – no shaking necessary. Stir, put the lid on, and strain your Saketumi into the proper glass. For a garnish, try a sliver of pickled ginger threaded onto a toothpick.

Pour the Pimm’s into a tall glass filled with ice; top off with ginger ale. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

Ed Sikov is the author of Dark Victory: The Life of Bette Davis and other books about films and filmmakers.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2256

The Pimm’s Cup

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

“I put down $250 on Billy Joe oh everybody’s up I’ll call you back is there coffee I smell it yeah! Bye! Great!” Phil Levine bounded down the stairs dressed only in a black leather jockstrap to which he had affixed a matching cellphone holster. Dan, Paolo, Chipper and I stared in shocked silence as the hypermasculine spitfire strode toward us. Seconds later, we were all introduced to his phenomenally hairy ass when he turned around to pour a mug of coffee. What with the phone strapped to the strap and all that fur, the vision was too much to bear (so to speak), and in a failed effort to stifle a

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

29

Book Review GC&E: What was it like putting this book together? How long did it take?

SP: You should ask my partner. Actually not! From soup to nuts this was nearly a three-year process and it took center stage in my life. It was hard – and yet the second most rewarding professional project I’ve ever done; top on that list is Dancing Against the Darkness, my first publication, one of the earliest books about the impact of the AIDS epidemic.

GC&E: How much of your advice comes from personal experience?

SP: That’s a curious question. I did tons of interviews with various experts. I also relied heavily on my Facebook fans and friends so that I had a lot of input into my thinking. But sure, some of the advice came from my personal experiences – but often it wasn’t what I did, it was more along the lines of what I wish I had done. In case others haven’t told you, I’m far from perfect.

GC&E: What are the hardest questions to answer?

SP: I’d say these fall into two categories. The most challenging – and wrenching – to me are those from young gay people who feel alone, are being ostracized, even bullied. From my own life experience, I have such empathy for them and do my best to connect and suggest local resources that might be helpful right now.

The other “hard” questions are those from people who don’t want to take responsibility for their actions and write hoping I’ll lay all the blame on their boyfriend or girlfriend, even their parents. For these people, it’s always someone else’s fault. Guess what, it’s not.

GC&E: What are some of the craziest “queeries” you’ve received?

Mister Manners

Steven Petrow talks new book, crazy questions and the importance of LGBT etiquette for straight people

By Chris Azzopardi For years, Steven Petrow’s been answering your questions about gay and lesbian life – everything from social-media etiquette to surviving the holidays. Now, he’s answering ours. The nationally syndicated writer, known for his “Queeries” column, recently released his latest book, Steven Petrow’s Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners, an ultimate go-to guide for LGBT living. In it, you’ll find real-world advice on coming out, dating, starting a family and entertaining with flair.

We caught up with Petrow, who talked about the most popular questions (sex ones, of course) and the best advice he’s ever received.

GC&E: Why did you start giving advice?

SP: In the past five years, there’s been this explosion of change both in our community and in the world. And because of my first manners book, folks tracked me down and started emailing me all kinds of questions – like, how do two grooms dress for their wedding? how does the child of two moms refer to his sperm donor? and lots of questions about coming out, dating and, yes, sex. I was answering them personally when I decided to start my monthly column. That was three years and thousands of questions ago.

I have to say I really enjoy trying to help LGBT people navigate through these new and uncharted waters – and especially young ones.

Two-thirds of the people who visit my site – gaymanners.com – are 13 to 19 and just coming to terms with their sexual orientation or gender identity. I take this advice-giving business pretty seriously.

SP: I’m not sure if you mean the question this way, but I get a lot of queeries from straight people and I’m sometimes just amazed about the things they ask. Questions like: “Who’s the man in the relationship?”

Please, that’s no one’s business – and, by the way, not everyone is a pitcher or a catcher.

I get a lot of sex queeries, too, like an early one about “the etiquette of fellatio.” I’ll spare you the answer here, but believe me, I’ve learned a lot about the human experience. And I wasn’t especially naïve!

GC&E: How is this book different than The Essential Book of Gay Manners and Etiquette?

SP: That little book, Gay Manners, came out in 1995. Sixteen years ago, it reads like it’s a century old. This was before online dating and personals, chat rooms, instant messaging and even widespread cell phone use. I wrote it before Ellen, Will & Grace, Queer Eye, and Boy Meets Boy; before The New York Times and the 200 major dailies began publishing gay and lesbian wedding announcements; before Massachusetts and California voted thumbs up on same-sex marriage.

In other words, a lot has changed!

GC&E: What are you most commonly asked about?

SP: The big three: Coming out. Relationship issues. And weddings.

Hands-down.

GC&E: Why are gay manners important for people who aren’t gay?

SP: It’s not as though they inhabit different universes and it’s not as though we set the table differently or treat our houseguests better, or worse. But when you read the traditional etiquette books, LGBT people are practically invisible. That’s why we need a book like this to help with our modern-day dilemmas. And the same is true for straight people. I’ve gotten questions like, “What do I say when someone comes out to me?”

“Thank you for telling me. That’s wonderful to know.” “Is going to a samesex commitment ceremony different that a straight one?” “Not so much overall, but definitely in the details – and in most states gay can’t legally marry.” Straight folks want a guiding hand because they don’t want to say or do the wrong thing.

GC&E: What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

SP: You may find this incongruous for someone who’s just written a book about manners, but a beloved professor of mine in graduate school always reminded us: “Break a rule every day!” At least I know now what rules I’m breaking.

GC&E: Have people always come to you for advice?

SP: (Laughs) Yes, friends have long said that I was wise beyond my years – but I also thought they were just trying to kid me that I was old. More seriously, I’d say yes, but with close friends I try to ask them questions that will help them figure out stuff for themselves. I don’t pretend to be – and I’m not – a know-it-all.

30

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2257

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

31

32

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

33

34

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

 Interview - From Page 10 he was,” McGregor says. “It’s very interesting to hear him talk about that.”

During filming, McGregor didn’t try to mimic Mills, and he never felt any pressure to do so. But to get a feel for him, he had Mills record all the dialogue so he could play it back and really get into character.

“It was funny,” he says, “because he was quite nervous about doing it. It was rather lovely to hear. He’s a very, very open man and a very sensitive man. He’s a fucking brilliant director, and I was just able to watch him and soak him up a bit.”

He began to understand Mills’ complicated situation, and how a once-married parent coming out could cause so much second-guessing. “It isn’t a straight-forward scenario,” McGregor says, “and it was nice that we showed that, and that coming to terms of not his father’s sexuality, but with what your childhood meant when you find out that your parents have been hiding this from you.”

And if McGregor’s been hiding anything, it’s his notorious frontal bits, which haven’t, uh, come out either in quite some time. Will we ever get another Pillow Book?

“I certainly haven’t made any conscious decision not to (do nude scenes), but it’s only ever if it’s relevant to the film,” he says. “I made a film called Perfect Sense with David Mackenzie, who directed Young Adam, and it’s possible it might be in there.”

What a relief.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2247

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments  Interview - From Page 11 MM: To be honest, I loved all my dad’s gay friends and they were inclusive, but as the straight son I was a little out of the loop. My dad had such a hunger to talk to and be mirrored by other gay men, and it was amazing to see – and it was slightly non-inclusive, so it didn’t always feel like it totally made sense for me to just be hanging out during movie night. (Laughs) But I saw some movies – I wish I knew what this movie was. It had this crazy sex scene with this guy in a full latex S&M suit with a plug and all that. It was a pretty intense sex scene with this guy in a suit, you know, getting sodomized. And me and my dad and all his friends were watching it and having, like, lemonade. (Laughs) GC&E: When Hal came out, Oliver seemed genuinely happy for his dad, and he processed it so well. Was that how you dealt with it, too?

MM: Yeah. It’s not easy to have the person who was married to your mom for 44 years change his identity – and not because he’s gay, but just because you’re like, “Whoa, what happened? Who were you?” My dad got so much more interesting and engaging and involved.

GC&E: What were the most important real-life characteristics or moments for Christopher and Ewan to get into the film?

MM: It’s the energy, and Christopher had it from the get-go. I never had to tell Christopher anything about being gay. I would tell him lots of stories because he liked them. Everybody likes stories about my dad. But it was never with a goal of imitating or being like him. Christopher had said, “Tell me one of your stories. Let me steep myself in your father.”

And that was a really good word, because that’s what it’s like – you get infused with the energy, but he was still his own entity.

The thing that I most wanted them to get was just how much this guy went for it and how brave he was in lots of ways – not just with coming out, but being 75 and having a huge crush on this guy.

So just being a 75-year-old guy in love, that’s a lot right there. Then overcoming all the fear and self-loathing that he internalized from our culture about his gayness, those are things that were super key.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2248

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

35

Out of Town

Louisville and Lexington

with the city is the Louisville Slugger Museum, where the famous wooden bats used by Major League Baseball are manufactured (actually in the adjacent Hillerich & Bradsby factory) - it’s part of the riverfront Cultural District that includes the excellent Frazier International History Museum, Louisville Science Center, and Muhammad Ali Center.

Louisville excels when it comes to the arts, with respected opera and ballet companies, the highly regarded Louisville Orchestra, and the Actors Theatre of Louisville, which hosts the acclaimed Humana Festival of New American Plays every spring. Many major musical and dramatic events are staged at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.

You’ll find a number of gracious residential districts both downtown and south of it, and a particular lively and gay-popular stretch of businesses and restaurants along Bardstown Road in southeastern Louisville’s Highlands and Cherokee Triangle neighborhoods. Anchoring this part of town are leafy and beautifully kept Cherokee Park and historic Cave Hill National Cemetery.

Due south of downtown, Old Louisville is an impressive neighborhood of Victorian mansions bordered by the sprawling campus of the University of Louisville, which enrolls around 20,000 students. The school’s Speed Art Museum has fine collections of American antiques and art by both European and American masters. Not far from here you’ll also find the world-famous Churchill Downs, site of the Kentucky Derby - a museum here traces the history of this renowned event.

Many of the city’s most gay-popular eateries are on Bardstown Road, including the community’s favorite java joint, Days Espresso (dayscoffee. com), a two-room space with local art and great coffee. Also along this stretch is Lilly’s (www.lillyslapeche.com), where you can sample such contemporary regional American specialties as catfish spring rolls with Asian dipping sauce, and locally farmed pork confit and braised shoulder.

 Louisville’s hip and contemporary 21c Museum ranks among the region’s most stylish accommodations - it’s also a museum and a first-rate restaurant. Photo by Andrew Collins.

By Andrew Collins Every year in May, all eyes fall upon Kentucky’s pastoral Bluegrass region. During the first week of the month, the city of Louisville holds the Kentucky Derby, the most celebrated Thoroughbred racing event in the country. But from spring clear through late autumn, it’s a fine time for touring the hilly, verdant swatch of northern Kentucky that includes the state’s two largest cities, Louisville and Lexington. Despite the region’s generally conservative demeanor, Louisville has a growing core of hip neighborhoods, an increasingly locavore-driven restaurant scene, first-rate arts and culture, and one of the world’s largest gay nightclubs. And collegiate Lexington - just 75 miles away - makes a charming base for exploring nearby horse farms and acclaimed small-batch bourbon distilleries.

Louisville A large, modern metropolis (city-county population 721,000) on Kentucky’s Ohio River border with Indiana, Louisville (pronounced loouh-vull) grew from its 1778 founding into a prominent transportation hub, first for riverboats, then for the railroad, and more recently as the worldwide air cargo hub for UPS. As with other cities along Midwestern waterways, the population boomed throughout the 19th century with Germans, Irish, and other European immigrants as well as a sizable African-American community. Today the city is a center of education and medical research at the University of Louisville, and a production center of everything from trucks to Kentucky bourbon.

Downtown near the Ohio River, along West Main Street and nearby streets, you’ll find an impressive stock of grand, Victorian cast-iron buildings that date to the city’s shipping days - this is also where a few of the city’s gay nightspots are. A paved RiverWalk affords great views of the city skyline and many bridges connecting with Indiana. Synonymous

36

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

One of Louisville’s most distinctive emerging neighborhoods for shopping and eating is the East Market District, a relatively compact stretch of cafes, galleries, and funky shops that’s just a short drive east of downtown. Here be sure to check out Bodega at Felice (www. thebodegaatfelice.com) - a trendy market, deli, and coffee bar all in one - and Toast on Market (www.toastonmarket.com), which serves tantalizingly tasty breakfast and lunch fare, including a memorable Monte Cristo.

Other dining standouts include downtown’s modern take on downhome cooking, Hillbilly Tea (www.hillbillytea.com) - try the “road kill stew” of venison, chicken, and mountain vegetables with braised greens and corn pone), and a handful of spots along lively Frankfort Avenue, including including Heine Brothers Coffee (heinebroscoffee.com) and Blue Dog Bakery (www.bluedogbakeryandcafe.com), which serves tapas on weekend evenings.

Louisville’s gay bars are spread around the city, with a few standouts downtown, including the legendary Connection Louisville (www. theconnection.net), an immense nightclub with several distinct spaces, from a drag show bar to leather lounge (Boots, with its own entrance) to an area with male erotic dancers - there’s something for all tastes here. Around the corner, Tryangles is locals-oriented cruise bar with male strippers on weekends.

At the other end of downtown, in the Cultural District, Starbase Q (www.starbaseq.com) is a popular, handsomely decorated bar with a welcoming staff, fun theme nights (country-western line dancing, cabaret, karaoke), and a great mix of guys - all ages and styles. Gay neighborhood spots south of downtown include Teddy Bears, Marty’s Tavern, and the mostly lesbian bar Tink’s Pub. Also of note is the famed Magnolia Bar & Grill (aka Mag Bar), an Old Louisville institution with a mixed gay-straight crowd and a fantastic juke box.

Downtown’s Cultural District is home to one of the most fascinating accommodations in the country, the 21c Museum Hotel (www.21chotel. com). This luxe property with 90 sleekly designed rooms has been crafted out of a row of warehouses that once held bourbon and tobacco producers. The multilevel public areas comprise a dramatic, 9000-square-foot contemporary art museum, and the hotel also contains a chic spa, a full fitness center, and one of the hottest restaurants in the region, Proof on Main, which fuses mod Italian and Southern culinary traditions.

Stylistically, Louisville’s grand Brown Hotel (www.brownhotel.com) is the polar opposite of 21c, but this regal 1923 property is every bit as cushy, its nearly 300 rooms outfitted with classic Old-English-inspired dark-wood furnishings and baths with Spanish marble. Make every effort

www.gaycalgary.com

to dine in the hotel’s formal English Grill, and plan a breakfast or lunch in the more casual but renowned J. Graham’s Cafe, which is famous as the home of the “Hot Brown” sandwich, a local take on a Welsh rarebit.

Other nice downtown options include the Hyatt Regency Louisville (www.louisville.hyatt.com), which is steps from nightlife and dining, the Residence Inn Louisville (www.marriott.com), and the bargain-priced but extremely basic Econo Lodge Downtown (www.econolodge.com) the latter two are very close to The Connection. The city’s historic Old Louisville neighborhood has several gay-friendly B&Bs, all of them set in stately old homes with ornately appointed rooms - they include the Austin’s Inn Place (www.austinsinnplace.com), the Culbertson Mansion (www.culbertsonmansion.us), and Columbine B&B (www.thecolumbine. com).

Lexington A gentile, attractive city that’s the state’s center of higher education, Lexington (population 296,000) is surrounded by picturesque countryside graced with lovely old horse farms. Although the city has just one gay bar, the presence of the University of Kentucky has given the city a more progressive bent than much of the region, and in 2010 the city elected openly gay man Jim Gray as mayor.

For an appealing sidewalk stroll, walk south along Limestone Street where is passes through the campus of the University of Kentucky - you’ll find a small strip of engaging shops and eateries here. The residential neighborhoods around the university comprise one road after another of gracious brick and limestone homes with neatly tended gardens and broad green lawns. A highlight is Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, whose shaded grounds and ornate mansion is definitely worth touring. Another fine museum is the Hunt-Morgan House, a Federal 1814 mansion.

You can learn about the region’s esteemed equine heritage at the Kentucky Horse Park, an actual thoroughbred-training facility where you can have a behind-the-scenes look at training and caring for these magnificent animals. If you’re headed to Lexington from Louisville, go by way of U.S. 60, stopping for a look at the historic downtown of the state capital, Frankfort, the state capital, and passing through the quaint town of Versailles, which is home to one the respected single-batch bourbon makers, Woodford Reserve., which offers excellent tours.

Excellent dining options in Lexington include Metropole (www. metropolfinedining.com), which serves imaginative, regionally inspired cuisine, and the cozy French bistro Le Deauville (www.ledeauvilleresto. com). Also consider Alfalfa (www.alfalfarestaurant.com), which specializes in healthful veggie-oriented fare, and the legendary breakfast joint, Doodles (www.doodlesrestaurant.com) - just beware there’s always a long wait for brunch on weekends.

Live performers and open-mic nights account for the success of Common Grounds Coffee House (www.commongroundsoflexington. com). You can also get full lunch here, a wide range of baked goods.

The Bar Complex (www.thebarcomplex.com) is the city’s most popular gay nightspot, right in the heart of downtown - it’s always packed at happy hour and well into the evening. Also worth a look is the loveably gruff neighborhood joint Al’s Bar (www.alsbarlexington.co), an eclectic but gay-friendly spot great burgers, live bluegrass, and stiff drinks - note the extensive list of small-batch Kentucky bourbons. The upscale dance club Soundbar (www.soundbarlex.com) also has something of a gay following, especially with students from University of Kentucky.

Lexington has a nice mix of hotels and inns, with the upscale Gratz Park Inn (www.gratzparkinn.com) a particularly charming, centrally located option. The three-story 1906 hotel contains 41 pleasantly furnished rooms and a fine restaurant, Jonathan’s, specializing in modern Kentucky cuisine. The seven-room, gay-friendly Lyndon House B&B (lyndonhouse.com) is perhaps the most romantic and luxurious inn in Lexington. Recommended chain hotels include downtown’s Hyatt Regency Lexington (lexington.hyatt.com) and the more affordable Holiday Inn Express Downtown Lexington (www.hiexpress.com).

Andrew Collins covers gay travel for the New York Times-owned website GayTravel.About.com and is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA. He can be reached care of this publication.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2259

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

37

Photography D FEST Calgary Dyke March Fundraiser at Club Sapien, Calgary

kickstART Fundraiser for CCASA - Calgary

Wail & Bail for Beswick at the Texas Lounge - Calgary

Recapture the Pride at the Junction - Edmonton

38

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

Photography Little Shop Of Horrors by the ISCWR at the Junction - Edmonton (photos by Dave Jackson)

ISCCA - Investitures at Club Sapien - Calgary

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

39

Photography ISCWR Queen of Hearts Cabaret at the Junction - Edmonton

40

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

I AM EQUAL Project - Calgary

www.gaycalgary.com

Stevie Nicks: A Fairy Tale Rock legend on gays getting her, Glee controversy and first solo album in a decade  Phto by Kristin Burns

By Chris Azzopardi Ten years have passed since Stevie Nicks released her last solo album, but she’s still the same gay-loved goddess of earthy rock she built her legend on. The new release, In Your Dreams, is exactly how the gypsy queen left us – with that uniform sense of mystical otherworldliness that’s made Nicks a go-her-own-way virtuoso since her days with Fleetwood Mac. White horses, vampire tales and ethereal love parables all seep into this set, Nick’s first all-new studio project after reuniting with Fleetwood Mac for 2003’s Say You Will.

Nicks recently spoke with us about taking a trip to “the magical world of fairies and angels,” the dress drag queens love, and how her own music motivated her to lose a dozen pounds.

GC&E: Why did it take so long to release another solo album?

SN: Even though I haven’t made another solo record in 10 years ago, I’ve been making music solid since Trouble in Shangri-La. I came off the road from 135 shows in 2005 with Fleetwood Mac and was going to make a record, and the business people around me said, “We don’t think you should do it because the music business is in chaos” – you know, with Internet piracy, which was really hitting us in the face in 2005 – “and it’s just going to be a really emotional pull on you. We don’t think you should do it. Tour while you can, do big shows and sell lots of tickets, that’s what you can do.” And I just was stupid enough to kind of go, “OK.” GC&E: When did you wise up?

SN: At the end of the Fleetwood Mac tour in 2009. We were in Australia, and I wrote the “Moonlight” song (from In Your Dreams) there, and when I got done with that song – I started it in Melbourne and I finished it in Brisbane – there was a piano. I stood up and I said to my assistant, “I’m ready to make a record now.”

GC&E: What was it like recording In Your Dreams?

SN: The whole year of recording this record was like this magical mystery tour that we did at my house.

We recorded the whole thing at my house and (the Eurythmics’) Dave Stewart, and his entourage were there every day, and my girls and everybody were there every day. It was just a fantastic experience. We started in February and ended in December, and when it was over I was heartbroken. I didn’t want it to ever end.

GC&E: The concept of the video for the first single, “Secret Love,” is intriguing – it merges your older self with your younger self. How do you feel now versus then?

Continued on Page 42  www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

41

her; she’s very chameleon-esque. That little outfit that Kelly is wearing is exactly the same as the black outfit I have on in the video. The eye makeup she has on is the makeup that I’ve been wearing since high school. I don’t change much.

GC&E: Right. You stay very true to yourself, and I think a lot of gay people can admire that because we strive for that, too.

SN: I do, and I think that brings a little bit of comfort to my audience.

I still have the two girls singing with me, because I love them and they’re my dear friends. But I could’ve been changing background singers every year, and I chose to stay with Sharon (Celani) and Lori (Nicks) because the sound of the three of us is comforting to my audience. And those clothes are comforting to my audience.

GC&E: Any impersonators stand out to you?



photo by Kristin Burns

SN: That’s why the little girl that’s in the video, Kelly, is wearing the green outfit that was my first colored outfit made in 1976, 1977 – that’s when my designer, Margi Kent, started making my clothes. But my outfits were black, and that’s one of the only colored ones she made; it’s a kind of tie-dyed green outfit. The little girl that’s playing me, she’s 15 and she’s one of my goddaughters, she, like, fits into this and we’re looking at her going, “Oh my god, we were that tiny!”

But anyway, that’s what I wanted. I wanted Kelly to be the 25-year-old Stevie, and then there’s the older Stevie. That song was written in 1975, so I wanted the spirits to blend. That’s why you see her leaving the white horse and then you see me leaving the white horse and then we’re both together, because in my dreams as a little girl that white horse was very important.

That horse was so beautiful. (While shooting the video) we looked down out of my bedroom window and saw this horse – and there was a fog machine on and the actual sun was coming through all the evergreens in my backyard – and I was like, “That can’t possibly be real.” If that horse had a horn you would’ve thought, “OK, I’ve died and gone to fairyland,” because it was so, so mystical and so real in its magicness. This horse was like Guinevere.

GC&E: Let’s talk about those fairies, because you know a lot of gays adore you.

SN: I know. I’m glad. All these visions that I see, I love when people get them. Sometimes people don’t get it, you know, and I love when people do, because I think that everybody needs to move into that magical world sometimes. A lot of people do not ever move into the magical land of fairies and angels and they just live in the hardcore miserable world that this world is right now. It’s chaotic, horrible, there’s nothing we can do – it’s such a bummer.

I can do benefits and go to Africa, but the reason I make music – the reason I’ve always made music – was to try to just make a record of songs that makes everybody, for an hour a day, feel better. We can all stay friends and we can all be in this world and we can rise above everything else for a minute. And that’s really the only reason I wanted to make music.

GC&E: When did you know you were a gay icon?

SN: When “Night of a Thousand Stevies” (a New York City-based salute to Stevie Nicks featuring impersonators) started happening 20 years ago, it was a clue. And you know, I always felt it was because I was not a fashion statement like Madonna was. I’m very different than

SN: Well, I just think it’s very fun to see. When I was wearing my beautiful white Morgane Le Fay dress and my black velvet jacket, that dress just took off. I noticed how popular that dress was from the impersonators. (Laughs) I was laughing, and Morgane Le Fay was just tickled pink. So every time I’d do a little change, like in the “Secret Love” video with the long floor-length, we’re laughing – Lori and Sharon and I are laughing going, “We’re single-handedly going to bring back the Victorian ball gown.” There’s a whole new fashion statement coming out of the three or four or more videos that will come from this record, where we really stayed very Victorian.

GC&E: Drag queens will be all about that, you know.

SN: Yeah – I love it!

GC&E: Glee recently dedicated an entire episode to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album. How do you feel about having your work on a show that’s been so controversial regarding using other artists’ songs?

SN: You know, I went down there when they were doing “Landslide” and I stayed there for six hours and watched them film the whole thing.

I watched Gwyneth (Paltrow) and Brittany (Heather Morris) and Santana (Naya Rivera) sing the song 50 times, and I had such a good time. What I was very touched by was that Lea Michele, who plays Rachel, said to me, “You know, in all the big songs that we’ve done, which is many, nobody’s ever called us or come down or even written a note thanking us for doing ‘Jessie’s Girl’ or a Journey song.” They do such great versions of all these songs; the original writers cannot fault them. They’re magnificent – every one of them. And she goes, “Nobody except you has ever come down and told us that they thought we were doing a good job.” And I thought that was so sad. Very, very disrespectful.

GC&E: As someone whose music has spanned many generations, how does it feel working with a new generation of performers – like the Glee cast or, for instance, Taylor Swift at the Grammys?

SN: I love that. A lot of the songs they love are songs that I wrote when I was really young. “Landslide” was written in 1973; I was 27. I may sing it now at 62, but I was 27 when I wrote that song. It’s not like they love a song that was written by a 62-year-old woman. They love a song that was written by a 27-year-old girl.

So I’m thrilled, and I don’t write any differently now than I did when I was 27. I just go to the piano – inspired by something that happens to me – with a cup of tea, incense burning and the fire in the fireplace.

GC&E: Was your muse for “Moonlight (A Vampire’s Dream),” which was Twilight-inspired, Taylor Lautner’s abs?

SN: No. It’s nothing about him at all. The first and third verse were written about me and Lindsey (Buckingham, of Fleetwood Mac) in 1976; the second verse and the chorus were written about Bella and Edward.

It really is an amazing blend – an ancient story blending Lindsey, Stevie, Bella and Edward, and everything in between. It’s my favorite. And by the way, I have listened to “Secret Love” and “A Vampire’s Dream” for the last two-and-a-half months and I’ve lost 12-and-a-half pounds just from treadmilling to “Secret Love” and “A Vampire’s Dream.”

GC&E: No way. You treadmill to your own music?

SN: Way! And I have never gotten tired of either of those songs. I’ve just been listening to those two songs for twoand-a-half solid months, and I am thinner than I’ve been since 1989. I really attribute it all to those two songs.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2261

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments 42

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

43

44

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

45

Event

Edmonton Pride

Nine Days of Celebration to Suit Every Flavour

By Janine Eva Trotta This month Edmonton’s LGBTQ community and a host of allies will take to various events and festivals to celebrate Pride in Alberta’s capital: June 10th to 19th.

“This year’s events represent what we believe celebrating our diversity is all about,” says Terry Harris, Director, Communications and Public Relations for the Edmonton Pride Festival Society. “Whether people want to celebrate in a party atmosphere or celebrate spirituality, family, youth, the arts or sport in other ways, there is an event for them.”

The fun lineup of activities includes the Pure Pride Dance Party, Team Edmonton Come Out and Play Day, a SoulOUTing spiritual service, the Pride Parade, the Celebration on the Square presented by TD Bank Financial Group, a Pride Family Picnic, and a Queer History Bus Tour.

Both the Pride favourites and new events will be taking place.

“This year sees the return of the Diversity Conference, which explores various aspects of spirituality,” Harris says, while, “new this year is a two-day festival called the Utopia Music Festival.”

Utopia will hit the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park the second weekend of the festival – Saturday and Sunday, June 17th and 18th – and feature a host of Canada’s favourite

46

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

artists. These include Ani DiFranco, David Usher, Lights, Suzie McNeil, Boy&Gurl, Justin Blais and Janet Panic.

Pride is also taking pronounced measure to host events that reach out to LGBTQ youth in the area.

“This year we adopted a new three-year Pride Festival theme: Stand UP! Stand OUT! Stand PROUD!” Harris says. “The theme was born out of a desire to encourage our community to Stand UP and celebrate the richness and diversity of our lives.”

“At a time when LGBTQ youth seem to be increasingly at risk due to bullying and other forms of intolerance, we also felt it was important to let them know that it gets better and we, as a community, stand with them and support them.”

Specific events focused on youth will include the sixth annual Mayor’s Brunch in support of Camp fYrefly and a discussion forum called Gay-Straight Alliance – Making it Better in Schools.

“This is a community forum with students from local gay-straight student alliances discussing their efforts and challenges to make schools safer for LGBTQ, questioning, and allied youth,” Harris explains.

Edmonton Pride has attracted an estimated 20,000 attendees over years past, and this year is expected to be no different.

Edmonton’s festivities draw in LGBTQ and allied community members from all over Alberta, and even Canada. The nine days really offer something for absolutely anyone.

“Pride means different things to different people,” Harris says. “For some, it’s a chance to simply celebrate and have fun.

For others, it’s an opportunity to reflect and explore different aspects of who they are as individuals and as part of the LGBTQ community. That’s why the Festival events cover such a broad spectrum. “

www.gaycalgary.com

Harris predicts that this year’s festival highlight will be the Celebration on the Square, presented by TD Bank. The celebration is held in downtown Edmonton’s core, at Churchill Square, immediately following the annual Pride Parade on Saturday, June 11. The celebration will include several hours of entertainment on the TD main stage, a beer garden and a variety of merchandise and food vendors.

Edmonton Pride has enjoyed many years of relatively little controversy, strong turnout and positive outcome. Though in the beginning, this was definitely not the case. The first Edmonton Pride was held in Old Strathcona in 1990, met with a rather cold reception.

“About 75 people marched along two blocks of Whyte Avenue, some with paper bags over their heads for fear of repercussions should they be identified publically,” Harris says. “A few years later, the parade moved downtown and in 1993 and 1994 Mayor Jan Reimer, amid much criticism, angry letters and phone calls, declared Gay and Lesbian Awareness Day for the next eight years. In 2004, however, then Mayor Bill Smith refused to declare Gay and Lesbian Pride.”

The Edmonton Police Service and the City of Edmonton are both actively involved in planning the details of the Pride Parade and the Celebration on the Square to ensure the safety of its participants. In 1992 the Edmonton Police Service developed the Sexual Minorities Liaison Committee to promote understanding, trust, cooperation, and mutual respect between the Service and the LGBTQ community through effective communication, education, and outreach, promoting fair and effective policing.

This year, Police Chief Rod Knecht is holding a Pride Week Reception on June 14th, Harris says.

Though Pride events take place all over Edmonton, the majority of events will be concentrated in the city’s central neighbourhoods. A detailed list can be found under the events calendar on the Edmonton Pride Festival website, or in the Pride Edmonton spread in this edition of GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine.

“We’re very excited about the diversity of events being staged this year,” Harris extols. “Thanks for GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine’s continuing support of the Edmonton Pride Festival! Your support is very much appreciated and helps make the Festival a success.”

Edmonton Pride Week June 10th - 19th • www.edmontonpride.ca http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2264

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

47

48

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

Classified Ads Announcements

100

An Evening of the Blues A Benefit Concert featuring Jack Semple at McDougall United Church 10025 101 Street & MacDonald Drive.

Friday, June 17, 2011. Preshow 6:30 p.m. Concert 7:30 p.m. Tickets $35 from Tix on the Square, 9930 102 Ave, Sir Winston Churchill Square Tel: 780.420.1757 / www.tixonthesquare. ca McDougall Pride Events: Sunday - June 12, 2011 @ 10:30 am Pride Church Service Sunday - June 12, 2011 @ 12:00 noon lunch with Michael Phair speaking - “Community Challenges: the End of Gay­–NOT”, McDougall United Church, Edmonton, Canada.

Obituary

170

Mark Martel

Home to Share

350

Personals

Lrg room for rent in 2 bdrm condo, south facing, everything included.

403-209-0600.

Clothing

400

Nude Housecleaning

Models/Escorts

325

Alberta Escort Listings

Newly open Bridal PLUS House offering wedding gowns sizes from 16-36. 780-486-2575, 12413 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton, Alberta.

Interested in a satisfying and visually stimulating way to keep your house clean? Then look no further! I will come to you house, clean in the nude, give you something to look at, and leave your house smelling pine fresh all at the same time! Please contact nakedcleaningservices@gmail.com for rates and scheduling information.

Erotic Massage

420

UltimateMaleMassage.com

385

Buying a new or used car should be fun and comfortable.

Adult Oriented

210

460

Bridal PLUS House

Vehicle

Mark passed away on March 28,2011 at the Foothills Hospital at the age of 54 years. He is survived by his loving soul mate and life partner Mike Cheswick and “fur kids” Jacob (dog) and Coco (cat). He also leaves behind two aunts, a brother, two cousins, two nephews and a niece. He will also be lovingly remembered by all his friends, co-workers and customers at London Drugs (London Place West).

desires. Come and check it out. It’s FREE to sign up and use. Find the love of your life, or just the weekend. http://www.thecocktaillounge.net

Check out www.Squirt.org for the Hot Escorts in Calgary, Edmonton, and the rest of Alberta.

New Improved Features. Free to Post and Browse. Videos, Pics, and Reviews. Join Now! Code: GCEE

Products/Services 500

Getting Married?

CIVIL MARRIAGES immediately or by appointment. All vows and paperwork included. Witness available.

Religion Free, Standard & Specialized Ceremonies, Cross Cultural, Same Sex LGBT.

Don’t want pressure or judgement?

Deal with a woman. My name is Carrie, I work at Kia City(Calgary Auto Mall). If you’re concerned with credit approval, come see me and we’ll do a pre-application to find out your best choices. Go to kia.ca to check our new and used(various brand) vehicle options. I have a sense of humor and enjoy dealing with gay and lesbian clients so call me at 403-390-3903 to help with your vehicle purchase!

Best Erotic Male Massage In Calgary Studio with free parking Deep Tissue and Relaxation Licensed, Professional Video on website 403-680-0533 www.ultimatemalemassage.com

Dating Services

415

Calgary’s Newest Dating Site The Cocktail Lounge is Calgary’s newest playground. It is an up and coming dating site for men of all

Rork Hilford, MC Alberta Marriage Commissioner, Commissioner for Oaths hilford@shaw.ca • 403-246-4134

Cleaning

517

Agador’s Cleaning Services Young, local Edmonton man looking to kick off his cleaning business. Whether you’re looking for a one-time clean, or a regular cleaning service, I’m sure to be able to accomodate your needs.

Please contact 780-298-2626 or

Ads starting at $10/mo. for the first 20 words. Submit yours at http://www.gaycalgary.com/classifieds www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

49

ď‚„ Classifieds Contd. agadorecleaningservices@gmail.com for rates and scheduling information.

Massage

560

Travel

680

Get Away From It All Roatan Honduras

Massage in Edmonton Registered Massage Therapist in downtown Edmonton. Relaxation and therapeutic massage. Insurance claims are welcome. For appointment phone Dwayne at 780-483-3190 or 780-918-5856.

50

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

Affordable Vacation Rooms, Bamboo Lounge Pool Bar, Continental Calgary via Houston to Roatan.

Leave at 7am be there by Happy Hour. Book Now. www.roatanguavagrove.com

www.gaycalgary.com

Mistress of the Gays Iconic Elvira’s Rainbow Connection

By Jason Clevett

“How did you find out that?” she asked when it was brought up. “I forgot it is on Wikipedia. I started as a go-go dancer and was hired at an army base. Right off the base, it was so bizarre, there was a gay bar. I started dancing there, I was actually like a drag queen. There were two guys and me, and we did the Supremes. It was kind of embracing because I was a girl dressed as a drag queen, with white lips and white eye shadow, and we performed under a black light so we looked like the Supremes. Isn’t that scary? People would always say, Oh my God you are the most incredible drag queen I have ever seen.”

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine spoke with Peterson between appearances at the Phoenix Comic-con. She appears at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo June 17th - 19th at the BMO Centre. Anyone who has seen Elvira can pick up on her queer roots.

“The gay influence on me is all over, it’s me. I grew up and became a gay man, it’s really bizarre. From the time I was 14, gay men were telling me how to dress, walk, dance, how to do my makeup and hair. I worshipped them and looked up to them.

First I was dancing with them, then for four and a half years I toured with a group of myself and seven guys called Mammas Boys that toured all over the United States during the big 70’s disco era. Those guys were like my brothers, we lived together, ate together, slept together sometimes. It was pre-AIDS thank god and really wild but man they taught me everything I know, I am not kidding, about everything. So I have a very different outlook on life,” she recalled. She is amazed at how far things have come for the community since then.

“I was from a small town in Colorado. You practically had to hide the bar there, there was a gay bar that was hidden in this weird area. If you didn’t have an inside address you were never going to find this place. It was called the Purple Cow. There was another one in Colorado Springs called Exit 21. These places were hidden and you had to knock on the door, and they would peek out the door and let you in. It was so hidden, so closeted, so scary. Everybody was sneaking around. Can you imagine, that was the 60’s, everybody was in the closet. In High School

www.gaycalgary.com

Bringing beauty, humor, and putting the “boob” in “boob tube”, Cassandra Peterson’s Elvira: Mistress of the Dark has been a part of pop culture for three decades.

While she has become one of the most recognizable personalities in horror, her early career started as a gogo dancer in gay bars.

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

51

all my best friends were in drama and kind of touchy, and later I went back and they were all gay but I didn’t even know. They were misfits and that is who I gravitated to. I grew up and went for my High School reunion and every one of my friends was a gay guy. But I didn’t get it then.”

Peterson has long supported AIDS charities and gay rights.

As she has embraced the community, they have embraced her back.

“I know I have had a big influence on drag queens, because now they come to me for advice! I was getting advice from them, now I am giving it. There are a lot of Elvira drag queens out there, some fantastic some not so fantastic but I love them all. I have definitely seen an influence on that area. The gay community seems to really love Elvira and support me. The community loves Madonna and Cher and Lady Gaga and Elvira. I think it is about being a sexy but strong woman, not sexy but weak and at the whim of men telling you what to do. Both women and men like a strong female figure who’s also sexy. If you have ever been to a Cher concert, I don’t think there are any straight men in the audience that’s for damn sure. Gay men are attracted to things that go right down the middle, not too butch, not too feminine, right in the middle and that would be me.”

A big part of that connection lies in the 1988 film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. Elvira quits her job at a TV station and discovers she has inherited a house from a great-aunt and moves to a small Massachusetts town only to be treated as an outcast and almost burned at the stake. The feeling of not belonging and being unwanted, resonated.

“It is fantastic for me to meet people who say, I saw your movie when I was 10 or 12 years old and it made such a huge impact on me. Generally that was the moment they knew they were straight or gay, it is really weird. I don’t know if I turned them gay or straight. They watched the movie and related to Elvira in some way. I meet people that I met as kids, and now meet them again in their 30’s and they all turned out good.

52

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

They were always messed up, bizarre outcast misfit kind of loser kids that turned out to be really creative, cool, together kind of people as adults I am always impressed. They tell me they work for Sony doing graphic arts or are a comic book artist now. I love seeing them through these decades,” she said. “For the gay community there was something about Elvira: Mistress of the Dark that, if they were gay, made them feel some camaraderie with Elvira. She is this horrible misfit person and it actually turned out good. She made it to Vegas, maybe I can too. Back in that day when you were gay and did feel like everyone was on the religious right and you felt like you didn’t fit in, I think that movie connected with a lot of young men and women who felt that they weren’t accepted and wanted to be run out of town on a rail. They saw they could actually make it work out and it wasn’t the end of their life.”

While she has appeared on the Johnny Carson show, Wrestlemania 2, had her own reality TV show, and had multiple video games based on her, Elvira’s biggest claim to fame is as a host: first of Movie Macabre in 1981 and now re-launched as Elvira’s Movie Macabre.

“I was a horror freak since I was a child. When other kids were playing with Barbies I was playing with Frankenstein and Dracula model kits. My favorite shows were horror related: Twilight Zone and Addams Family. Even as a child, horror was my favorite; Vincent Price and House On Haunted Hill and the Roger Corman movies that were loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe. Those were my favorite movies growing up as a kid so I had that influence as well. Gays and horror, hmm, I don’t think they should go together that well but it works for me. I tend to really like the older campy movies. I do go to horror movies when they come out and, I hear they are really good, I make a point of seeing them. In general my favorite horror movies are from the 50’s and 60’s. Recent movies like The Hunger and Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula – things that are more fantasy based.

www.gaycalgary.com

I am really not into Saw or Halloween films that are more like torture than horror.“ Peterson isn’t the only horror icon at the expo. She will be joined by director George A. Romero, Doug Bradley (Pinhead from Hellraiser), Julian Sands (Warlock), and Gaylen Ross (Dawn of the Dead, Creepshow).

“Today in Phoenix I am sitting next to Stan Lee and Leonard Nimoy. These are all guys I have been friends with for 20 years, I have seen and met them a million times, Juilan Sands is the only one I met recently. George Romero, we go back 100 years.

So every few months we see each other, it is always fun to see them, and a thrill, but we are kind of like co-workers gathering around the water cooler and trading stories. Every time I see them I am impressed.”

So what can you expect when Elvira haunts the Calgary Entertainment Expo?

“I haven’t been up to Calgary for this event but I have heard it is first class and amazing. I was talking to someone here at the Phoenix Comic-Con who said they had been there and you won’t believe it. So I don’t know what to expect, I was going to ask you,” she said. “I just had a storm trooper jump out of the elevator and point a gun at me.

It is bizarre but I am used to it. I have heard the costumes are first class so I am looking forward to seeing it. I am not sure what I am doing or what to expect but I will be there hanging out.”

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark Appearing at the Calgary Comic Expo and The Macabre Masquerade www.calgaryexpo.com • www.elvira.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2266

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

53

54

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

Schwinging with Tia Carrere Wayne’s World & Relic Hunter star comes to Calgary

 Tia Carrere

By Jason Clevett Tia Carrere seemed to curse our interview from the start.

“Hopefully my iPhone doesn’t drop because I am right by the Apple campus,” she said on the phone from San Jose, where she was performing a benefit concert. Two minutes later I was left talking to air. Fortunately the issue was soon resolved and the interview continued. Fans won’t have to worry about getting disconnected from the star when she appears at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo June 17th - 19th.

“I am excited to come up there, I haven’t been to Calgary in a long time. It is so nice getting the love, and they get to come up and take a picture [with] their children because they know me from Wayne’s World and their kids know me from Lilo & Stitch. It is multi-generational now and I keep sticking around,” she said, adding that she really enjoys interacting with fans. “I have always said that this may be the one and only time this person meets you in their lives. Do you want it to be a good experience or a negative one? We are so fortunate and blessed in that I get to do what I love, travel the world and meet so many people. It is my responsibility to be enthusiastic

Continued on Page 57  www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

55

56

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

 Interview - From Page 55 and charming when I meet people that are there to give you their love.”

While some first saw Carrere on the series Airwolf in 1985 or as Jade Soong Chung in General Hospital, many first remember her as the schwing-worthy Cassandra Wong, love interest of Wayne in 1992’s Wayne’s World.

“It is crazy just thinking about how long ago it was, because it has gone by in a blink of an eye. I think it was like the Rocky Horror Picture Show of our time. It spawned a lot of phrases that people still use today like Way! No Way! and Shyeah, as if.

I think I hurt my neck the last time I headbanged to Bohemian Rhapsody so I’m not going to do it anymore. Mike Myers is wonderful and a sweetheart, a really great guy. When I was auditioning the last one, he came up to me and said . It just made a world of difference when I walked in the room, confidence wise. It was really, really great.”

It was then on to 1994’s action-comedy True Lies. Carrere has fond memories of working for the James Cameron directed film, which also featured Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, and Charlton Heston.

“I just saw Jamie Lee Curtis in Beverly Hills. That is a classic movie it was dynamite. It was such a huge movie and it went on for such a long time, about a year to shoot. My little part as fifth banana was nine months of shooting from LA to Miami to Newport, Rhode Island, DC. I was all over the place. Arnold was terrific to work with and very fun loving. He had a crew of guys he has worked with for many years. My brother-in-law has actually been friends with him since 1972, his friends he keeps a long, long time.”

From 1999 – 2002 Carrere played archeology professor Sydney Fox on the syndicated series Relic Hunter. The show took some creative license but blended history with actionadventure. It was mostly filmed in Toronto, and Carrere is now a permanent resident of Canada.

“The most fun was traveling the world on somebody else’s dime! I got to go to England and Paris and Spain and lived in Toronto 10 months out of the year. We shot 66 episodes of that show and it was so much fun. It was really a page from the Indiana Jones book, a little bit of education in the framework of an action-adventure show. I thought it was more of a kids show but I realized a lot of grown women really liked the show.

Maybe it was the way I kicked around my sidekick – a strong dominant female with a sweet, adorable foppish sidekick along with the fantasy of traveling the world. So the fact that women loved the show more than children really surprised me. It was about being a maverick and not conforming to other people’s definition of what you should be.”

Now it is not just people who loved Wayne’s World who are excited to meet her, but also their children. As Carrere already mentioned, she played the voice of Lilo’s sister Nani in Lilo and Stitch. The show spring-boarded her back to her musical origins. Many may not realize that Carrere is a multiple Grammy award winner.

“It was a return to my roots because I was born and raised in Hawaii and is why I got back into recording of Hawaiian music. I sang a song in the film and went back and revisited with a childhood friend of mine, Daniel Ho. We did some famous Hawaiin songs on our first record (Hawaiiana) and were nominated for a Grammy. Our second album (Ikena) won, and then this year (Huana Ke Aloha) won me my second Grammy.

I am over the moon, I have two of them! I just received mine about two weeks ago. It is everything I dreamed of, I always dreamed of being a Grammy winner, not being an Oscar winner.

Music was always my love growing up. It all kind of started from singing for that film. It took me back to where I came from and the innocence of my childhood.”

She tours with longtime friend Daniel Ho, and will have her CDs available at the Expo.

“Daniel Ho and I have known each other since we were 14 years old. I went to an all-girl Catholic School and he went to an all-boys Catholic school down the street and music was the

www.gaycalgary.com

only place we could meet where we weren’t sinning. We started in jazz orchestra and entered talent contests together.”

In short, Tia Carrere is an actress, singer, model, and Mom. It can be a challenge balancing all aspects of her life, but one she takes on with joy.

“I was up in Toronto working on a new show on ABC called The Hot Zone about a combat hospital in Kandahar starting June 15th. I was up there doing that show, came home to Los Angeles for less than 24 hours, then to Hawaii for some shows and Q&A’s. So it was going from acting to home for less than a minute to singing.”

She is looking forward to meeting some of her gay and lesbian fans at the expo.

“I love the gay fan base. I went to go visit with my old dresser Richard Ryder on Relic Hunter and he is now is a big gay DJ at Proud FM in Toronto. He and I went shopping on Church Street and went to Northbound Leather and bought me a fetish dress. He said let me take you to tranny closet, I need to hem up that dress for you. I met his friend Miss Conception who was doing a show that afternoon and it was all feather boas and sparkles.

It was awesome.”

Tia Carrere Appearing at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo Jun 17th - 19th • www.calgaryexpo.com • www.tiacarrere.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/a2268

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

57

Photography

58

White Party at Twisted Element - Calgary

Mr & Miss Buddys 2011 - Edmonton

Calgary Men’s Chorus Concert BLUE

Flash 1st Anniversary Party - Edmonton

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

Photography Pure Pride Party at Priape and Club Sapien - Calgary

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

59

60

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

61

62

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #92, June 2011

63